WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI — Energy Transfer Rover Pipeline is one step closer to burying its gas line in Lenawee, Washtenaw and Livingston counties after the company filed a federal lawsuit Friday, Feb. 3 to start construction.

ET Rover is trying to install a natural gas pipeline throughout West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan.

About 58 companies, government entities and/or individuals are listed on the lawsuit; all within Lenawee, Washtenaw and Livingston counties, according to U.S. Eastern District of Michigan Court records.

ET Rover needs these property holders to allow access to their land before it can start construction.

“Our first priority is to negotiate voluntary easement agreements with landowners,” ET Rover Spokeswoman Vicki Granado said in an email. “If that is not possible, our last resort is to use legal options.”

ET Rover’s legal option in this case is to use the power of eminent domain to gain access to the land needed to start construction.

The company is suing for permanent easements (right-of-way for the pipeline), and temporary work spaces, according to court records.

In April 2015, ET Rover used a similar civil lawsuit in an attempt to survey Washtenaw County landowners’ properties.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission recently certified the company to begin construction, pending permits and conditions that must be met.

Among the conditions is completing tree clearing by March 31 in Michigan to preserve an endangered species of bat, FERC Spokeswoman Tamara Young-Allen said.

“Due to the amount of tree clearing that will be needed for the Rover Pipeline Project, FWS raised concerns about the Rover Pipeline Project’s effect on federally listed bat species, including the Indiana bat, northern long-eared bat and the Virginia big-eared bat,” according to FERC’s certification to ET Rover. “In order to minimize impacts on federally listed bat species, FWS recommended that tree clearing only occur during certain seasons of the year.

“Environmental Condition 25 restricts clearing activities to between October 1 and March 31 in Michigan.”

The pipeline is planned to span 510.7 miles and be able to transfer 3.25 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day, according to court records.

“The Rover Project represents an approximate $4.2 billion investment of private funds for public infrastructure under the Natural Gas Act,” according to court records.

ET Rover’s goal is to have gas service begin in July 2017 in Michigan, according to an ET Rover news release.

ET Rover’s plan is for the pipeline to run about 80 miles in Michigan, from the Morenci area up west of Ann Arbor to west of Howell, where it will meet with the pre-existing Vector Pipeline on its way to Canada.