Category Archives: wildlife

Wildlife Corridors v. Business Groups. Property Rights.

Where are Business Groups are suing to stop a wildlife corridor: Ventura County CA

Which Business Groups are involved?

  • Ventura County Coalition of Labor Agriculture and Business
  • California Construction and Industrial Materials Association

What is a wildlife corridor?

  • limits impermeable fencing, night lighting, construction and clearing of vegetation
  • to help wild animals move between the Santa Monica Mountains and the Los Padres National Forest
  • as the wild animals search for food, shelter…

3 Ways Republicans are Inconsistent on Eminent Domain

  • Republicans oppose taking land for trails and sidewalks calling it “egregious government overreach”
  • Republicans support allowing foreign corporations to use eminent domain
  • In the state budget Republicans expanded the types of oil pipeline business structures granted eminent domain power

Wisconsin State Journal | Mark Borchardt: Republicans are inconsistent on eminent domain

Lege TREND. Eminent Domain Comes with Higher Legal Liability for Using it

Recall all the headlines about California utilities going bankrupt because of liability for the wildfires? The liability is high because the utilities have strict liability

So legal mumbo jumbo, strict liability, aside the California utilities have strict liability because they have the power of eminent domain. 

Why the strict liability tied to eminent domain? The policy idea is that if the companies have the  power to take a person’s land they should be liable for the harm that is caused…

Lege TREND. State Legislation to Contravene Federal Permits. Grazing Rights in this Bill.

Montana’s HJ 28 (2019 | MT) would request that the state deny the American Prairie Reserve’s grazing proposal to the Bureau of Land Management

Opponents say:

  • thinly veiled attempt by the United Property Owners of Montana
  • Their interest is only “to protect only the economic interests of its members”
  • coercive use of the power of the State to attack the property rights 
  • if they want a modification of federal grazing privileges, request one through the proper channels

Missoulian | HJ28: An…

Eminent Domain to Protect Wildlife from Cars. Amend an Eminent Domain Bill When in Doubt.

New Mexico Legislature wants their Transportation Agency and Wildlife Agency to talk to each other to develop a transportation plan to protect wildlife from vehicles. 

Most likely solution? Wildlife underpasses

Why? Wildlife and motor vehicle accidents carry a $20 million per year cost to the state 

Legislatively how did this come about? An amendment to an eminent domain bill.

KOB 4 | New Mexico wants to protect cars and animals from each other 

Property Rights. New Study. Value to State of Conservation Easements.

The new study: Texas Land Trends report “Conservation Easements in Texas

The value of conservation easements in Texas:

  • bolster the $23 billion in cash receipts for agriculture
  • contribute over $100 billion annually to the food and fiber sector
  • provide over $63.1 million in agricultural commodities annually
  • potential to capture over 980,000 acre-feet of water annually, representing a $207 million water replacement cost savings per year
  • wildlife management increased by over 5.6 million acres…

Lege TREND. Color Coding Private Property Access for Hunting

North Dakota is considering SB2315 (ND | 2019)   which seeks to peotect private property by creating a color coded system for access by hunters.

All property, including private property, is considered green an open for hunting.

Property Owners can post red signs to prohibit access by hunters.

Bismark Tribune | North Dakota private land bill seeks compromise with proposed database for hunting access

AgWeek | ND Senate passes revised trespassing bill

2019 Texas Legislature Eminent Domain Playing Field. Who is Where & What are all these Associations?

The 2 umbrella assocaitions in the bruhaha:

  • Texans for Property Rights “dedicated to protecting property rights”
    • Texas Farm Bureau
    • Texas Assoc. of Realtors
    • Texas Wildlife Association
    • Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Assoc.
    • TWITTER  (October 2016)
  • Coalition for Critical Infrastructure ” help maintain Texas’ positive business climate and quality of life by addressing our growing need for roads and highways; oil, natural gas and water pipelines; electric transmission and…

Private Property Rights. Coastal Barrier Protection, Rep. Elect Mayes Middleton.

The private property rights issues related to the Coastal Barrier System:

  • Mayes Middleton opposes the displacement of any homes or businesses on Galveston and Bolivar Peninsula
  • the original intent of the project should be respected (which does not involve displacing businesses or homes) by returnign to the dune-line protection plan

Houston Chronicle | State Rep.-elect Mayes Middleton eager to prove his conservative bona fides