Permian Highway Pipeline archive

Local businesses, non-profits, landowners, and residents are deeply concerned about the pipeline’s potential negative impact to our tourism economy, our drinking water, our sensitive ecosystem, our treasured endangered species and property values.

Texas state law is currently very generous to Kinder Morgan, giving them the power to use eminent domain to acquire easements for their pipeline regardless of an affected landowner’s opposition. Kinder Morgan has admitted that most of the product they intend to move from the Permian Basin to the Gulf Coast will be sold overseas. Our communities will be forced to live with this risky infrastructure for the benefit of a for-profit corporation.

County commissioners, city councils, conservation districts, and school districts across the Hill Country have signed resolutions opposing the pipeline’s route and demanding that the state legislature reform eminent domain and begin requiring environmental impact studies for intrastate pipelines. Click below to read these resolutions.

The Wimberley Valley Watershed Association has been following the progress of this pipeline since its inception, and has been actively working with landowners, scientists, experts and legal counsel to determine the best course of action to reroute the pipeline out of the Hill Country. We are dedicated to landowners, watersheds, land, wildlife, and to the Texas Hill Country.

 

We oppose this pipeline because we know it is bad for those we are dedicated to. We know the unique karst topography and artesian spring-fed ecosystems of the Hill Country are far too susceptible to the dangers that such an intrusive project would come with. We know this project would alter the landscape and prevent landowners from using their land freely.

We know that any threat to our landscape, wildlife and water sources are a direct threat to our local economy, which relies on tourism. The Hill Country draws millions of people each year for many things: recreation, swimming, fishing, touring, hiking, birding, agriculture and ranching, brewing, dancing, or just relaxing and taking in this treasured piece of Texas. Dozens of Local businesses who feel threatened by Kinder Morgan’s Permian Highway Pipeline have signed our Business Resolution Opposing the Permian Highway Pipeline. Help us reach our goal of 500 businesses.

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Threats to the Texas Hill Country

If Kinder Morgan has their way, the pipeline will be installed through primarily karst aquifer systems in this region. These systems feature numerous and highly sensitive sinkholes, caves, and fault lines. The construction of the pipeline could cause irreparable damage to these features and the massive disturbance during the construction phases will alter hundreds of streams, creeks, and springs. We have no way of fully comprehending the short and long term effects of the construction, but we do know that decreased flow rates, altered water routes in the aquifer, and increased silt and sediment are highly likely.

Move The Pipeline — Save The Water (MTPSTW) is a coalition backed by organizations and individuals who share a common belief: Kinder Morgan’s current route for the Permian Highway Pipeline is bad for Texas because it threatens the drinking water for millions of Texans.

MTPSTW has come together because Kinder Morgan can and should do better! The lives of everyday Texans depend on it.

Sign up for daily newsletters from MTPSTW here.

Compressor and valving stations will add significant noise and light pollution to the immediate and surrounding properties. While we don’t have a lot of information on where these stations will be located or how often they will be used, we do know that their noise levels can equal that of a jet engine and can be heard within a 2-mile radius. Click here to watch a video and listen to what a compressor station sounds like when they do their Emergency Shutdown Down drills. It really gets going 15 seconds in.

 

 

 

This current route goes right through areas of known endangered species habitat, like the Golden-cheek Warbler. Read our article about it below. Additionally, the impacts to the aquifer from trenching, construction, maintenance, and ongoing operations of the pipeline could impact the endangered and rare salamanders in the Blanco River, Pedernales River, San Marcos Springs, and Barton Springs.

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Landowner Toolkit

– If you are an affected landowner, we urge you to seek legal counsel. Kinder Morgan does have the power of eminent domain, and they will use that power to put their pipeline in place. You do NOT need to accept their initial offers, and you can negotiate your contract with them if they are successful in placing the pipeline on the proposed route.

– Educate yourself, talk to your neighbors, reach out to the WVWA  or to the Texas Real Estate Advocacy & Defense (TREAD) Coalition (info@treadcoalition.org) about being involved in future meetings.

– Come ask questions and share your concerns at upcoming community meetings.

– Write to your representatives! Let them know this issue is important to you!

Maps

Enter your address in the map below to see where your property is in relation to the predicted pipeline route.

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Call to Action Checklist

 

 

 

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DONATE TO THE HILL COUNTRY LEGAL DEFENSE FUND 

BSEACD’s Presentation to Kinder Morgan on February 20th, 2019

WVWA Presentation to Wimberley City Council on March 11th

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Upcoming
Permian Highway Pipeline
Events

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