(MSC News)-- U.S. Senator Jerry Moran says he plans to introduce legislation aimed at safeguarding the private property rights of Kansans affected by the U.S. Department of Energy's proposed five-mile wide national interest electric transmission corridors, one of which would span much of the state and run locally through Marshall, Nemaha and Brown Counties.

“Over the past several weeks, I’ve been traveling across Kansas, and I’ve heard from many who live and work along the path of the proposed National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor,” said Sen. Moran. “There is concern and opposition. Their message to federal government is clear: their land is not for sale and is not to be taken.”

Moran says the proposed corridors would allow the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to use eminent domain for new transmission lines in certain cases, including if a state regulatory authority denies the siting of a proposed line.

The Kansas Republican says his proposed legislation would prevent federal funds from being used to condemn private property for transmission line corridor designations and bar the Department of Energy from overruling a state regulator's rejection of an electric transmission project.

In addition to the legislation, Senator Moran has been engaged with the Department of Energy, and says they have assured him they will continue to accept comments and take them into consideration through the next phase of this proposal.

Moran says if a Kansan would like to offer comments on the proposed transmission line to the Department of Energy, please email: NIETC@hq.doe.gov.