Trident Pipeline Update – Understanding the Initial Offer Letter

In this video, Landowner Rights Attorney Philip Hundl provides landowners affected by the Kinder Morgan Trident Pipeline with a detailed guide on how to review and evaluate the initial offer letter or packet. If you’re impacted by this or any other pipeline project, you should get the help of a knowledgeable lawyer to guide you through the condemnation process. Call Philip at 800-266-4870 or text the office at 979-320-9320. Our offices are in Wharton County and we help landowners all over Texas.

Trident Pipeline Update: Understanding the Initial Offer Letter

Summary of Trident Pipeline Update Video – Understanding the Initial Offer Letter

Texas Landowner Rights Attorney Philip Hundl provides landowners affected by the Kinder Morgan Trident Pipeline with a detailed guide on how to review and evaluate the initial offer letter or packet. The pipeline, a high-pressure gas line with a diameter of 42 to 48 inches, impacts multiple counties starting from Katy up and over Houston. Landowners have already been contacted and initial surveys have been conducted. Philip explains the key components of the initial offer letter, including the proposed easement and the corresponding diagrams depicting permanent and temporary easements. He highlights the importance of understanding the width of the proposed easement, additional temporary workspace, and any potential errors in the tract’s property boundary. This episode aims to help landowners properly assess the impact of the pipeline on their property and take informed action.

Introduction: Trident Pipeline Update

Hi, Phil Hundl here with a quick pipeline update, and this is on the Trident pipeline, or Kinder Morgan Trident pipeline. This is a high-pressure gas line, 42 to 48 inches in diameter—a very large pipeline starting from Katy and going up and over Houston, essentially affecting multiple counties.

If you’re a landowner affected by this pipeline, you have already been contacted. There has already been surveying on your property, and at this point, many landowners are receiving an initial offer letter or initial offer packet.

Reviewing the Initial Offer Packet

I’d like to talk to you about how to review and evaluate that initial offer packet.

So let’s take a look at what you, the landowner, have received or will be receiving from Trident. This is the initial offer, also known as the “offer to acquire easements.” This is what we call the initial offer letter, and it’s going to reference your tract in a particular way.

Here’s where the reference will be for your tract number. We’ve redacted this particular initial offer letter, but they’ll also reference the county where you are. Additionally, the initial sum that they are offering in this initial offer letter will be specified. The letter will also contain contact information, and as you scroll down to the second page, you’ll see more details.

Understanding Involved Parties and Law Firms

Although Trident has engaged three law firms to represent them on this project, you may have also been contacted directly by representatives from Kinder Morgan or the right-of-way acquisition company, TRC. It can be confusing because you might encounter representatives from all three—Kinder Morgan, TRC, and one of the law firms involved in the project.

Sometimes, these firms might have filed a temporary restraining order or application for a temporary injunction against you. If that has happened, you are likely already aware of which firms are involved.

Analyzing the Preliminary Plat and Easement Diagram

Behind the initial offer letter, you’ll find a plat or diagram that shows the proposed easement. One of the first things to check is the width of the permanent easement that they will be seeking. We’ve heard of different widths for this project, but in this particular case, it’s a 50-foot-wide permanent easement.

Pay close attention to the preliminary diagram, as it can change over time. The legend in the corner will give you an idea of what different colors and hatchings represent:

Yellow: Temporary easement area
Blue Lines: Boundaries of the permanent easement area
ATWS (Additional Temporary Workspace): Temporary workspace that may be needed beyond the permanent easement

You may own more land than what is depicted on the tract shown in the diagram. Sometimes, the tract described may be incorrect, or the property boundary may include land that you have already sold.

Checking for Access Roads

It’s important to also look for any indication of access roads on the diagram:

PAR (Permanent Access Road)
TAR (Temporary Access Road)

This particular tract doesn’t show any linear feet for temporary access roads, but if there were any, they would be labeled in a similar way. If the diagram includes access roads, it’s crucial to understand how they may impact your property.

Accuracy and Limitations of the Diagram

It’s essential to remember that this diagram is not a finalized civil engineering plat. It’s merely an estimate of what the pipeline company intends to do on your property. The acreages and linear feet shown in the diagram are not final and should not be considered definitive.

Conclusion: Protect Your Property Rights

Hopefully, this breakdown helps you better understand the initial offer packet and what to look for when evaluating it. Remember, these diagrams are just rough representations of the proposed easements and are subject to change.

If you have questions or need assistance reviewing your offer packet, feel free to reach out. Your land is your legacy—make sure you are fully informed before making any decisions.
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