SOUTH CAROLINA — Kinder Morgan’s subsidiary, Elba Express LLC, is seeking court approval to survey land along a proposed natural gas pipeline route in the Lowcountry, sparking disputes with dozens of property owners in Hampton and Colleton counties. The pipeline is intended to supply a new 2,200-megawatt natural gas power plant in Canadys.
Legal Action to Access Property
Court records show that Elba Express has filed at least 75 cases involving more than 60 landowners, requesting permission to enter private property to conduct surveys. Similar legal actions are underway in Georgia, where the pipeline will also cross private lands.
The filings aim to prevent property owners from blocking surveyors or interfering with their work. Kinder Morgan stresses that these legal measures are part of a preliminary step to assess potential pipeline routes and do not automatically indicate land condemnation.
Landowner Concerns
Some landowners have refused survey access, citing private property rights and potential disruption to farmland, forests, and waterways. John Crapse Jr., 73, a farmer in Estill, is named in five of the legal actions. He expressed concerns about the impact on his 2,800 acres of farmland and irrigation systems.
Environmental groups have also voiced objections. Eddy Moore of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy noted that surveying is an early step that could lead to property condemnation. Tonya Bonitatibus of Savannah Riverkeeper highlighted the ecological sensitivity of areas along the proposed pipeline, including the Savannah River and Groton Plantation, a 13,000-acre tract protected for conservation.
Environmental and Safety Considerations
While natural gas pipelines are generally considered safer than oil pipelines, they can still pose environmental risks, particularly during construction and in the event of a rupture. Kinder Morgan asserts that the pipeline will follow existing rights of way where possible, minimizing environmental disruption. The proposed pipeline corridor is expected to be 300 feet wide.
Company Statement
Kinder Morgan spokesperson Allen Fore emphasized the company’s intention to work with landowners. “If we can’t make accommodations for that particular property … we potentially will look at an alternate route,” he said. Fore stressed that discussions with landowners may result in adjustments to the pipeline path, and compensation would be provided if land use is necessary.
Project Scope and Controversy
The Elba Express/Kinder Morgan pipeline would stretch more than 70 miles from eastern Georgia to Canadys, South Carolina, bypassing sensitive areas such as the ACE Basin nature preserve. Dominion Energy, in partnership with state-owned Santee Cooper, plans to develop the Canadys natural gas plant. Critics argue that the plant may be unnecessary, particularly since much of the power would supply energy-intensive data centers.
The project has drawn scrutiny amid potential corporate acquisitions, including Dominion Energy of Virginia by Next Era, and discussions over approvals from the state Public Service Commission. Community concerns have also focused on environmental protection, farmland disruption, and the ecological impact of pipeline construction.
