'Stepping on a small little farmer': Metro farmer continues David v. Goliath pipeline project fight
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – An Oklahoma City property owner tells News 4 an ongoing legal battle hasn't been enough to stop an oil company's plan to build a replacement pipeline through his backyard.
In October, News 4 spoke with farmer Don Eckroat who said he and other property owners nearby received a letter last year, informing them of Phillips 66 plans to build a replacement pipeline. The company says it plans to replace 37 miles of lines that run from Ponca City through Oklahoma City.
The part of the pipeline impacting Eckroat is near Britton Road and Midwest Boulevard.
Phillips 66 says the project is a public good, and has used Oklahoma's eminent domain law to move forward with work regardless of Eckroat's wishes.
Eckroat's farm primarily grows Bermuda grass, and he wants it to be capable of sustaining future generations of his family who are willing to keep it going. When News 4 crews first visited it in October, there seemed to be no indication work would be starting inside of Eckroat's land in the immediate future; but that's changed a month later.
"They decided to cut almost an 80 foot wide path through our farm to deposit a 10-inch pipeline," Eckroat explained while showcasing the dramatic changes.
There was also significant flooding in the property from water drainage. Eckroat said a culvert system was installed just outside of his property line that isn't sufficient for the amount of rain the metro has seen the past several days. Land dug up by crews has turned into a partially muddy mess. Eckroat says the longer the water stands, the more difficult it'll be to restore oxygen rich nutrients his soil needs to make money.
"It's going to probably cost us well over $50,000 damage that they've done right here," said Eckroat. "This is David and Goliath and this is big company and stepping on a small little farmer."
News 4 reached out to Phillips 66 Monday and received the following statement from a company spokesperson:
"Phillips 66 has willingly had multiple conversations with Mr. Eckroat over the last year. This includes offering reasonable settlement terms for the small portion of land being used for pipeline construction. His attorney also appointed one of the three independent appraisers used to determine this settlement. Phillips 66 only chose to pursue other legal channels after Mr. Eckroat declined compensation that was higher than market value and rejected other recent attempts at resolution. Phillips 66’s commitment to the safety of its operations and community has guided our efforts on this project. As dense urban development has increased along the pipeline’s current path, more proactive measures are required to update its infrastructure that was first built in the 1930s. The new route ensures the continued safe transport of essential fuels to Oklahoma City and surrounding areas. We have also ensured legal compliance with all regulations to construct this pipeline along the proposed path. We are working with all affected landowners to minimize disruption to their land, restore it and maintain frequent contact with them throughout this project."
Phillips 66 spokesperson