A natural gas pipeline in New Mexico exploded, killing 10 people and leaving 86’ x 46’ x 20’ crater.
Natural gas pipelines are dangerous. There are a litany of incidents demonstrating this danger, most recently in New Mexico.
The details are horrific. The pipeline turned into a flamethrower, essentially melting two families of campers and raining flames hundreds of feet away.
While the likelihood of a particular pipeline on a particular property exploding are low, the consequences are extreme. In the information age where people have ready access to stories like this through a simple Google search, the existence of pipelines will have an impact on market value for residential properties.
We are seeing an unprecedented number of pipeline projects. I am currently or have recently represented owners confronted by pipeline takings by Wolverine, Nexus, Rover, and DTE. Whether this is a coincidence of timing or the start of a trend of new pipeline projects remains to be seen.
