Any public utility having first obtained a certificate from the Commission as hereinbefore provided, desiring to exercise the right of eminent domain for the purpose of acquiring property for the underground storage of natural gas shall do so in the manner hereinafter provided. Such public utility shall present to the district court of the county wherein the land is situated, or to the judge thereof, a petition setting forth the purpose for which the said property is sought to be acquired, a description of the property sought to be appropriated and the names of the owners thereof as shown by the records of such county. The petitioner shall file the certificate of the Commission as a part of its petition and no order by the court granting said petition shall be entered without such certificate being filed therewith. The court or the judge thereof shall examine said petition and determine whether the petitioner has the power of eminent domain and whether said property is necessary to its lawful purposes, and if found in the affirmative, such finding shall be entered in the record and subsequent proceedings shall follow the procedure now provided by law in the exercise of the rights of eminent domain by railroads.
Added by Laws 1951, p. 136, § 5, emerg. eff. May 26, 1951. Amended by Laws 1992, c. 352, § 5, emerg. eff. June 4, 1992.