PUC Urged To Grant Utility Status To Gathering Company

Pennsylvania State Sen. John Blake is urging members of the state Public Utility Commission to grant utility status to Laser Northeast Gathering, a controversial move that would give the shale gas pipeline company the authority of eminent domain, or condemning private land for company use. Laser's request for a "certificate of public convenience" -- the document that would acknowledge the pipeline as a utility -- has been before the commission since last year.