Despite the controversy, community information sessions, and petitions, a recent ruling by a Travis County judge has just cleared the way for a natural gas pipeline through the Texas Hill Country. The ruling stated that construction can proceed, despite a lawsuit by property owners, Hays County, and the City of Kyle to stop the 430-mile, $2 billion Kinder Morgan project. With respect to the decision, Travis Mitchell, the Mayor of Kyle, Texas, said, “In the State of Texas oil and gas reign supreme.”
Ruling that the pipeline developers weren’t in violation of state laws, Judge Lora Livingston gave the green light to the Permian Highway Pipeline. “The court finds no authority for the proposition that the legislature has granted authority to the Commission to oversee the rights granted,” she said. Judge Livingston also granted the request by Kinder Morgan to dismiss it from the lawsuit. In the meantime, landowners and local governments are determining whether to appeal. Pipeline construction is scheduled to begin in October of this year. Mayor Mitchell told cbsaustin.com, “Kinder Morgan is routing through the City of Kyle for one reason only, it makes them the absolute most money possible.”