The sewer line installation project is moving along in Lower Towamensing Township.

Engineers from Carbon Engineering Inc. in Summit Hill have given the township a partial list of the properties where easements will need to be sought. They said there are about 220 properties in all.

Township solicitor Jim Nanovic said he has received a list of about 100 of them. He suggested that they hold a public meeting with all of property owners, engineers, supervisors and himself to explain the easements to them, and the process for granting the easements. It would have to be held at a larger site, because everyone won’t fit in the municipal building, he said.

Brent Green, the chairman of the supervisors, asked the engineers if they have the mapping done to line up all of the easements. He also asked when they will know exactly how many easements they will need.

Engineer Loren Salsman said they should be done in a couple weeks.

Green said that once the engineers are done, then the township will have to contact the property owners and set up a special public meeting.

Green also asked about the engineers’ recent meeting with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

Engineer R. Michael Tirpak II said it was productive. They met via Zoom with District Executive Michael Rebert and Melissa Maupin, the highway occupancy permit manager. They plan to write up eight points from the meeting to make sure everything is clear.

“The things we were asking for sounded like she was going to work with us,” said Tirpak. “It sounded definitely like the district executive was moving in that direction.”

Nanovic asked if there are any stream crossings that will need to be addressed.

Salsman said there are 11 stream crossings. They met with the Conservation District and state Department of Environmental Protection two weeks ago. The DEP is going to verify if any of the streams are of exceptional value. There are many classifications for the water quality in the area of the crossings, he said. Tirpak added that DEP has six months to review the water quality information.

Nanovic asked what the timeline is for the project. Salsman said they hope to get a permit from DEP in November, which is six months from the beginning of April. From there, they will get contracts set and begin work in the spring.

According to the township’s website, the Lower Towamensing Sewage System will include gravity lines, manholes and pump stations with the force mains associated with them.

The system will serve the several areas in the township including: Aquashicola, Walkton, Little Gap, Red Hill Road and Weiner Mobile Estates. The portion of the system serving Aquashicola, Walkton, and Little Gap will be sent to and treated at the Blue Mountain Ski Area Wastewater Treatment Plant. This treatment plant will need to be upgraded.

The other portion of the system serving Red Hill Road and Weiner Mobile Estates will connect to the Palmerton collection system and be treated at the Palmerton Borough Wastewater plant.