COLUMBIA, MO. -- Missouri 4th District Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler has introduced bipartisan legislation to protect the property rights of Lake of the Ozarks landowners.

The property owners are threatened by a dispute involving the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or “FERC” and electric utility Ameren Missouri.

Hartzler said a ruling by FERC defies common sense.

FERC approved a shoreline management plan that would remove thousands of homes and structures to operate the Osage Hydroelectric Project at the lake.

Hartzler said FERC’s ruling tramples on private property rights and ignores recorded deeds and easements.

The Republican Congresswoman said, “We’ll just take it one step at a time.  There are issues that many of the property owners have raised that they have a legitimate easement to this property that goes back to the 1930’s when the lake was initially built.  I think they have a very good point there and a very good case, as far as that goes.”

FERC’s ruling is under appeal.

Hartzler said the ruling is causing so much harm to the already-fragile real estate and construction markets at the lake, she feels congress cannot wait for a long, drawn-out court battle to solve the problem.