Flight 93 site panelist quits over eminent domain

SOMERSET, Pa. - A Flight 93 Federal Advisory Commission member has resigned because of the government's plan to take seven property owners' land in rural southwestern Pennsylvania for the memorial.

Somerset County Commissioner Pamela Tokar-Ickes said in a letter last week to the commission, which makes recommendations about the memorial, that she does not support using eminent domain.

The National Park Service has said it must acquire the land so the memorial can be built by the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The Park Service said it had been unsuccessful in negotiations, but property owners maintain negotiations have not happened. Under eminent domain, the value will be decided in court.   

- AP