(AP) – A Nebraska firm seeking to condemn more than 9,100 acres in south-central Kansas has won another legal skirmish.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Donald Bostwick earlier this week sided with Northern Natural Gas. He recommended that the federal judge overseeing the case confirm that the company can condemn all property in an expansion area where gas from its underground storage facility may have migrated.

More than 173 property owners hold some interest in the 40-plus tracts in Pratt, Reno and Kingman counties.

Bostwick also recommended Northern be granted immediate possession of the property after posting reasonable security. On Friday he corrected his order to require to $6.7 million bond in addition to a $3.8 million deposit.

U.S. District Judge Wesley Brown will decide whether to accept those findings.