West Texas Residents Raise a Fight Over Another Trans-National Pipeline

"Residents have rallied to oppose the Trans-Pecos pipeline, which will transport Eagle Ford shale gas across one of Texas' last remaining pristine areas."

"It was a late afternoon in July when James Spriggs, a West Texas rancher, was driving home and got a call from a representative of Energy Transfer Partners, a pipeline company based in Dallas. The man on the line issued him an ultimatum, Spriggs said: sign an agreement giving the company access to build a pipeline through his ranch in Marfa or face a court order in 48 hours.

"I said, 'Then send the court order and the sheriff,'" Spriggs recalled. "My last nerve had come to an end."

Spriggs, 70, bought his cattle ranch 23 years ago with his now deceased wife, Glenda, who loved animals. He worked for the state highway department before deciding to raise cattle full time. He is now part of an unlikely coalition of environmentalists and ranchers at the forefront of a fight to stop the construction of a pipeline running through one of Texas’ last remaining pristine natural landscapes."

Naveena Sadasivam reports for InsideClimate News September 9, 2015.