A federal judge says backers of a 124-mile pipeline designed to ferry cheap Marcellus Shale natural gas to New York can build across seven northeastern Pennsylvania properties whose owners had not agreed to it.
U.S. District Judge Malachy Mannion ruled this week the Constitution Pipeline had the necessary permits from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and that it serves the public interest.
The Judge pointed out Susquehanna County landowners stood be compensated by the pipeline's owners. Some defendants never responded to lawsuits seeking access to their land.
The company can start work after it posts a $1.6 million bond, and is granted construction permits.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.