This text of Maine § 35-A §4710 (Eminent domain) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Maine primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.
Subject to the provisions of this section, a natural gas utility may take and hold by right of eminent domain lands or rights in lands necessary to the safe, economical and efficient operation of a pipeline and to the provision of adequate service to the public. For purposes of this section, the term "natural gas utility" means an intrastate natural gas pipeline utility or a gas utility other than a gas utility over which the commission's jurisdiction is limited pursuant to section 4702‑A.
1.Conditions and standards.
A natural gas utility may take and hold by right of eminent domain lands or rights in lands necessary to the safe, economical and efficient operation of the pipeline and to the provision of adequate service to the public if:
2.Public utility facilities.
Nothing in this secti
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Subject to the provisions of this section, a natural gas utility may take and hold by right of eminent domain lands or rights in lands necessary to the safe, economical and efficient operation of a pipeline and to the provision of adequate service to the public. For purposes of this section, the term "natural gas utility" means an intrastate natural gas pipeline utility or a gas utility other than a gas utility over which the commission's jurisdiction is limited pursuant to section 4702‑A.
1.
Conditions and standards.
A natural gas utility may take and hold by right of eminent domain lands or rights in lands necessary to the safe, economical and efficient operation of the pipeline and to the provision of adequate service to the public if:
2.
Public utility facilities.
Nothing in this section authorizes a natural gas utility to take by eminent domain property or facilities of another public utility, used or acquired for use in the performance of a public duty, unless expressly authorized in this section or by an act of the Legislature.
3.
Owner's consent required.
A natural gas utility may not take, without the owner's consent:
4.
Public lands.
A natural gas utility may not take by eminent domain lands or rights in:
5.
Pipeline constructed under or through public property.
A natural gas utility may construct a natural gas pipeline under or through a public highway or street, public park or reservation or other public property if the method, plans and specifications for construction have been approved by the authority having jurisdiction over the maintenance of the public highway or street, public park or reservation or other public property and the authority has granted a written location permit to the utility in accordance with section 2302. The natural gas utility has all the rights, privileges and duties arising out of section 2302 to the extent they apply to a natural gas utility.
6.
Pipelines constructed over or across railroad or public utility.
A natural gas utility may construct a natural gas pipeline over or across the location of a railroad or public utility by agreement with the railroad or public utility or, in the event of failure to agree, with the commission's approval and in a place and manner and under conditions determined by the commission. Notwithstanding subsection 4, paragraph D, the commission's approval of a natural gas utility's crossing of a railroad may include authorization pursuant to this section for the natural gas utility to take by eminent domain an easement across the railroad. For purposes of this section "railroad" includes, but is not limited to, a railroad whose abandonment has been approved pursuant to 49 United States Code, Chapter 109. This subsection does not permit the commission to authorize the taking of an easement over lands owned by the State. All work on the property of a railroad or public utility must be done under the supervision and to the satisfaction of the railroad or public utility, but at the natural gas utility's expense.