The answer: eminent domain. The State of Texas has seized all the private property not voluntarily sold to them along the Keystone XL's desired right-of-way. Eminent domain is an action of the state to seize a citizen's private property, expropriate property, or seize a citizen's rights in property with due monetary compensation, but without the owner's consent. Of course this tactic was envisioned to be used as a means of acquiring land for things like highways, schools and railroads that would, at least in principle, be serving all the citizens of the state or community not just the private profits of the corporate elites.
“Tar sands is the dirtiest fuel on the planet, and I want the world to know that Texans do not want this pipeline forced through their homes,” Fairchild said, pushing back against the argument that her stance was solely about protecting her own property and water supply. The Keystone pipeline's function is to pump tar sands crud from Alberta across America to the Saudi owned refineries in Houston who already have the facilities in place to refine the crap because they already refine similar crap from Venezuela. After refining the crap in Houston the refined products will be sold internationally to the highest bidder, probably the Chinese not the Americans.
An open letter in support of the Tar Sands Blockade titled 'We Stand With Those Who Stand Against Tar Sands Pipeline' was published by a long list of Green Groups today. It says in part: As we write, our friends with the Tar Sands Blockade are blocking construction of TransCanada’s Keystone XL pipeline in the woods of Texas. For the past six months they have built a movement of climate activists, rural landowners, Texans, Oklahomans and people from all over the country to fiercely resist it. For two weeks, they have captured the imagination of the world with a daring tree- sit and bold ground actions near Winnsboro, TX that have delayed TransCanada’s operations.
