State Rep. Erin Zwiener (D-Driftwood) has filed a bill that would require environmental assessments before a natural gas pipeline is constructed.
House Bill 2277 is meant to help make transparent whether a proposed pipeline will damage the environment and to help direct mitigation plans, according to a press release from Zwiener’s office. Joe Green, Zwiener’s chief of staff, said the legislation was a direct response to the Kinder Morgan pipeline slated to run through Hays County.
“I think most people are shocked when they find out pipeline companies aren’t required to do an
environmental assessment before they begin construction,” Zwiener said in a press release. “These pipelines are massive infrastructure projects that have the potential to damage ground water, wildlife habitat, and streams. The public deserves to know the full environmental impact before companies take private land and start digging.”
Kinder Morgan’s proposed Permian Highway Pipeline, which is routed through Hays County, was a point of concern among Zwiener’s constituents at recent town hall meetings in Kyle and at Texas State University in San Marcos. The pipeline’s route starts in the Permian Basin and stretches to near Katy, passing through the Texas Hill Country. The city of Kyle and the Hays County Commissioners Court have both adopted resolutions opposing the Kinder Morgan pipeline, and the San Marcos City Council is slated to vote on a similar resolution tonight.
Texas law grants private oil and gas companies strong powers of eminent domain, and there is currently little public oversight.
“If these private companies are going to have the same eminent domain powers that state and local governments have, they need have a public oversight and accountability mechanism in place,” Zwiener said. “These pipeline routes need to be drawn in the light of day and not in corporate board rooms.”
HB 2277 is the first of many bills Zwiener plans to file to increase public oversight and accountability for the construction of large pipelines.
Other legislators have filed bills addressing the oversight of energy projects in Texas. Legislation has been filed regarding environmental impact statements, eminent domain authority, pipeline incident reporting requirements, the maintenance of pipeline incident records and the disclosure of the location of pipeline leaks.
