1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Protecting Our Conserved Lands Act of 2019”.
Protecting Our Conserved Lands Act
A BILL
To prohibit the use of eminent domain for the construction or expansion of a natural gas pipe line through land conserved by certain land trusts and local governments, and for other purposes.
2. Limitation on the use of eminent domain
Section 7(h) of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717f(h)) is amended—
by striking “When” and inserting “(1) When”; and
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(2) Beginning on January 1, 2022, notwithstanding paragraph (1), a holder of a certificate of public convenience and necessity may not exercise the right of eminent domain to acquire land or other property necessary to construct, operate, or maintain a pipe line for the transportation of natural gas, or any station or equipment necessary to the proper operation of such pipe line, any part of which will be located on land that is—
“(A) subject to a conservation easement or other conservation-related restriction by an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code;
“(B) owned by or deeded to an organization described in subparagraph (A) for the purpose of conservation;
“(C) subject to a conservation easement or other conservation-related restriction by a municipality, county, or other division of local government; or
“(D) owned by or deeded to a municipality, county, or other division or subdivision of local government for the purpose of conservation.”