Any public utility desiring to exercise the right of eminent domain as to any property for use for underground storage of natural gas shall, as a condition precedent to the filing of its petition in the district court, obtain from the Commission a certificate setting out findings of said Commission (a) that the underground stratum or formation sought to be acquired is suitable for the underground storage of natural gas and that its use for such purposes is in the public interest; (b) the amount of recoverable oil and native gas, if any, remaining therein; provided, that the Commission shall issue no such certificate until after public hearing is had on application, pursuant to notice served in compliance with notice in civil actions in the district court, together with notice published at least once each week for two (2) successive weeks in some newspaper of general circulation in the county or counties where the gas is proposed to be stored, the first publication to be at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the hearing.
Added by Laws 1951, p. 135, § 4, emerg. eff. May 26, 1951. Amended by Laws 1992, c. 352, § 4, emerg. eff. June 4, 1992.