A handful of Carbon County residents commended the county commissioners for speaking out against a proposed pipeline that is expected to cut through this area.

On Thursday, members of Save Carbon County attended the commissioners' weekly meeting to discuss the PennEast pipeline project.Linda Christman, a spokeswoman for the group, thanked the board for its "leadership on the pipeline issue," particularly its recent letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in Washington, D.C.The commissioners said there are many concerns and adverse effects if the pipeline comes to fruition along the route that is currently proposed."I know we certainly can't stop the pipeline," Commissioner Thomas J. Gerhard said, "but we believe there is a right way and a wrong way to do things, and we just want people to do the things the right way."He said he heard of homeowners whose properties will be damaged or become unlivable because of the pipeline and that concerns him."The board of commissioners here will make sure we do everything in our power to make sure that the pipeline is put in correctly," he said, again reiterating that he doesn't think they can stop the project from happening.The county has encouraged FERC to withdraw its impact statement until "all necessary factual data and comments from all impacted landowners, concerned community members and environmental advocates … are received."FERC issued its draft environmental impact statement in July and determined the proposed 118-mile natural gas pipeline would have a "less-than-significant level of impact" if mitigation measures were followed.If approved by FERC, the pipeline would run through Kidder, Penn Forest, Towamensing and Lower Towamensing townships on its way from Luzerne County to Mercer County, New Jersey.But the county stance, which also is based on its planning office director's review of the project, is that the pipeline will have significant impacts to residential areas, state lands and historic areas and noted that the project has not been approved by either the Kidder Township planning commissioner or board of supervisors, even though a previous Department of Environmental Protection document states otherwise, and the plan does not conform with the county's Comprehensive Plan and Greenway Plan.Christman and those from Save Carbon County who were in attendance commended the board with a standing ovation."This pipeline is going to affect Carbon County for decades so it is appropriate that you take the lead on this issue," Christman said.Commissioner William O'Gurek said that even though the county doesn't really have any weight when it comes to whether or not the project is approved, the board plans to continue to fight for the people.He said a number of things bother him about the project, including that the public hearings that are required are not allowing for adequate testimony from the residents; and that PennEast, a for-Proft company, is using eminent domain to obtain land because it states the pipeline is "for the public good.""It is really troubling to me. I don't like the way it's being done. I don't believe that this entire process has been transparent enough," O'Gurek said. He agrees with Rep. Matthew Cartwright's position, calling for a hearing to show why this pipeline is needed."I don't think this has been a level playing field with regard to the people who will be impacted the most by this."Commissioners' Chairman Wayne Nothstein and Gerhard echoed their colleague's thoughts, thanking the group for leading the fight and reminding the residents that the board will continue until all avenues are exhausted."Carbon County is not the only county having issues with the pipeline or gas producers," Nothstein said, pointing out that Bradford County has attempted to stop the gas production in its county because the company is not treating the residents fairly and not paying the promised royalties.Pending regulatory approval from FERC, PennEast has an estimated in-service date of the second half of 2018.Visit the Times News Facebook for video of the residents speaking at the Carbon County Commissioners' meeting.