Does TransCanada have the right to take your land?

New York Times does a nice job exploring the issue of whether TransCanada can legally “take” land in the United States even though it’s a foreign company and hasn’t yet gotten a permit for its oil pipeline from the State Department.

Randy Thompson — of “Stand with Randy” fame — is featured in the photo and lead of the New York Times story, because he’s one of many individuals fighting TransCanada’s use of eminent domain to take their land.

Yes, it’s quite legal for a company — even a foreign company — to come to your house one day and tell you they’re going to take some of your land to build an oil pipeline. Or an oil well, for that matter.

Don’t believe it? The Times explains the issue here.