Penneast pipeline meeting: 300 detractors

Hundreds of people turned out in Ewing, New Jersey, USA on Wednesday this week to speak out on the impact of the proposed PennEast pipeline, a project that has met fierce opposition since it was first announced in August 2014.

About 90 people signed up for a turn to speak at the public hearing, with most of the crowd overwhelmingly against the project. Opponents of the proposed 114 mile pipeline that would carry natural gas from northeast Pennsylvania to New Jersey outnumbered supporters during the hearing.

The 114 mile, 36 in. diameter pipeline would span six counties, stretching from Luzerne County in northeast Pennsylvania to Hopewell Valley in Mercer County. It would carry approximately 1 billion ft3/d of natural gas.

This was the fourth of five scoping meetings held by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The only other meeting in New Jersey is set for Thursday at The Grand Colonial in Hunterdon County.

The public meetings are part of the agency's assessment of the environmental effects of the proposed pipeline. The public has until Friday to submit written comments, which, along with the meetings, will be considered when FERC staff members write a draft environmental impact statement.

Opponents said the pipeline would cut through acres of farmland, open space and environmentally sensitive land that voters have spent hard-earned dollars to preserve.

Wednesday’s meeting in Ewing examined the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s environmental impact assessment of the proposed pipeline.

Edited from various sources by Elizabeth Corner

Sources: NJ.com, Washington Times

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/project-news/27022015/penneast-pipeline-meeting-300-detractors/