Vermont Gas Systems has settled with 94 percent of landowners along the 43-mile pipeline corridor from Colchester to Middlebury.
More than 150 landowners in the right-of-way corridor have reached agreements with Vermont Gas.
In a statement, Don Rendall, president and CEO of Vermont Gas said the company’s goal has been “to work positively with landowners, with respect for them and their interests as we move forward.”
The company filed nine eminent domain petitions with the Vermont Public Service Board on Oct. 21. Vermont Gas says it is negotiating or mediating with landowners who are “willing to seek alternatives to the eminent domain process.”
“Eminent domain is a last resort,” Rendall said in a statement. “We must file these petitions now because we are at a critical point with respect to maintaining the project construction schedule and controlling costs. Wherever possible, we will continue working with landowners outside the eminent domain process to reach agreements.”
Vermont Gas is seeking to secure 100 percent of the right-of-way as soon as possible.
The Vermont Public Service Board stayed action on eminent domain petitions filed in April. Since then one of the petitions has been resolved, according to Vermont Gas.
The project is to be completed at the end of 2016.