Can a Pipeline Company Use an Old Easement to Install a New Pipeline?

There are many pipeline easements crisscrossing Ohio dating back in some cases to the early 1900s. It is common for pipeline companies to try to use these old easements to locate a new pipeline. It is also common for the pipeline company to claim that they either don’t have to pay additional compensation or that they only have to pay the compensation specified in the old easement – in some cases this amounts to only pennies per foot.

However, the law of Ohio contains numerous protections for landowners who find themselves in this situation. If you find yourself in a situation where a pipeline company seeks to enforce an old easement on your property, we recommend that you contact us for assistance in determining whether the pipeline company really has the rights that it claims.