LogFAQs > #890563719

darkknight109 posted...

streamofthesky posted...

(still don't know how the U.S. government can even do that...)

Eminent domain, which is far from unique to the US government. If a work is deemed to be in the public interest and requires the use of privately-owned land, the government can seize the land either temporarily or permanently in order to facilitate construction. Notably the government must first attempt to negotiate with the landowner in good faith and, if no agreement can be reached, fair compensation must be offered. It's used fairly regularly in pipeline construction, since there's always at least a few landowners on the right-of-way that refuse to voluntarily allow construction.

I know about eminent domain.
I meant, specifically in the case of Native American lands. That should be the one exception where the U.S. does not actually own the land...
Even if the government does somehow still own it, you'd think the U.S. government trying to forcibly take away their land would be a political non-starter by now.