Sweetcreek Sugarworks

[NorthernFocus]

Nice set of documentary photos, Marie. Up here they make birch syrup rather than maple but it's the same basic process.

There must be something more to the story of their situation. Unless they do business differently in your part of the country at least.

Pipeline companies don't typically own the property that the lines run through. They usually pay the landholders a lease for use of the property. The 200ft wide easement that you mention can typically continue to be used for agriculture etc. Just can't have occupied buildings on it. Doing the math on 128 acres and the size of the easement you indicated, only ten percent or so of the farm should be needed for the easement. So say if even half of the easement is actually cleared (in you photo nothing near 200ft is being cleared) then that's five percent of the trees potentially destroyed. Unless the maple farmer has a terrible lawyer he should be able to keep his business and have a nice retirement annuity from the lease and/or royalties. Maybe he just needs a new lawyer...

[Marie Hass]

Dear Dan,

The picture I showed is indicative of the pipeline process. It is not their property.

There is more to the story, but I did edit. The person across their road purchased the adjacent property and sold rights to the pipelines. The planned route for the lines is right through the Howell's grove and shack that I showed.

My understanding of what was said is that the company is playing hardball and is talking of emminent domain and condemnation, especially since the owners do not want to sell. They will clear the main heart of the producing grove.

Apparently, there is no swerving. Since the easeway must remain clear, They cannot string across the easment.

Like I said, I do not know the entire story. They are both exceptionally bright people, and I am sure they are taking steps to protect themselves.

Based on your commentary, I did read the below article to gain a better understanding of what was going on. It is in layperson's terms. Perhaps biased, I do not know. I am not an attorney, and thus could not dispute what I was told.

http://www.wvsoro.org/resources/advi...2014-08-27.pdf

Marie

[Dave Humphries]

Thanks for the updates Marie,

The pdf link was taking an age to open tonight, so I'll have a look out of interest tomorrow.

I hope they manage to salvage something, Dave

[NorthernFocus]

... They are both exceptionally bright people, and I am sure they are taking steps to protect themselves...

I read the paper that you linked. Most of it was about how to make sure and get paid fairly for use of your land. Then there was a bit about the potential problems if it comes down to "hardball". If they are bright people they should come out of the whole thing in pretty good shape. After all, gas isn't a seasonal business like maple syrup

Hopefully they hired a lawyer familiar with the industry and not simply an old family friend...

[Marie Hass]

Dear Izzie,

I saved you for last since you always inspire me to write helpful volumes. Then, I found i really did not need to say much at all.

Thank you for your kind words.

Marie