Nearly 100 people gathered for an informational meeting on the proposed PennEast pipeline Feb. 5.

State Reps. Marcia Hahn (R-138th) and Julie Harhart (R-183rd) along with state Sen. Mario Scavello (R-40th) sponsored the forum. They introduced David Messersmith, an educator with Penn State Extension, and Carl Engleman, a Berks County attorney whose practice focuses on environmental law.

Messersmith presented information that supported the notion that pipelines are a safe method to transport gas. Statistically, according to Messersmith, more than 68,000 miles of pipeline operate in the country with more than 10,000 miles in Pennsylvania. Pipeline development was originally designed to bring gas from the Gulf of Mexico to the northeast when the Gulf provided most of the region's natural gas. With the development of Marcellus Shale along with other new energy sources, the distribution requirements for gas changed.

The PennEast pipeline is an interstate line that will be under the jurisdiction of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC.) The state will have oversight responsibilities during construction. The proposed billion-dollar project is a 42-inch line designed to carry gas at 1200 psi. The configuration is different than most people are accustomed to because this is a transmission line.

"Utility lines most people are familiar with carry gas to each home. The PennEast line has no taps. Gas goes from the well to a distribution facility," said Messersmith. He also addressed technical features of pipelines and considerations made for safety. The pipeline requires an environmental review now in its opening stages.

The actual route is not finalized. Engleman suggested that the final route would be the one where PennEast is able to get the maximum number of cooperative leases. Penn-East is looking to make its proposal to FERC in 2016 and wants to start construction in 2017.

Engleman suggested that landowners hire an experienced attorney to review any leases.

"There are a lot of options for you as a landowner…most of which will never be explained," he said.

There are a variety of public information inputs available to the public and public comments will be reviewed by FERC.

"Once the plan is approved, there is little chance that it will be stopped," warned Engleman. Projects are stopped before approval by grassroots opposition. Municipal actions to deny a FERC pipeline are not recognized as part of the approval process.

Amanda Landino asked about provisions for people with limited resources to hire attorneys.

According to Engleman, there are disadvantages in banding together to fight the pipeline because some members of the group may want to settle while the cost of litigation continues. Engleman indicated that most attorneys will review a lease and take 20 percent of any additional amount they can finagle as a fee.

"There has never been a first offer that can't be improved," he said.

Pipeline representatives cannot coerce landowners with threats of eminent domain.

"No one is going to use eminent domain until the project is approved and PennEast notifies FERC that no other alternative exists. According to Engleman, it is PennEast's objective to use existing rights of way and avoid environmental or historically significant areas.

"It makes sense to use existing rights-of-way. It is easier to get an agreement," he said.

Pipelines are a boon to attorneys and generate state revenue. Landowners receive compensation for an easement that allows maintenance crews access to the pipeline for as long as pipeline exists. Landowners pay taxes on any funds they receive.

Questions from residents ranged from general terms to specifics. There were scattered complaints about unauthorized trespassing and representatives talking about using eminent domain even this early in the process. Landowners said they were reluctant to go on the record for fear of government countermeasures. State representatives offered to take up matters privately. One landowner was peeved about a survey crew that cut the lock on his gate.

"I'm willing to work with them, but they can show some respect for me and my property," he said.

The nearly 100 people who gathered for the meeting were evenly divided between those who were adamantly opposed to the pipeline and those who reluctantly accept that the pipeline is inevitable.

Al Miles expressed his concern that the pipeline route was near a school. Although the final route has not been determined, Hahn produced a restriction requiring a pipeline be at least 956 feet away from a school.

Safety and technical specifications are a well-developed science based on thousands of miles of pipelines in operation.

State legislators were asked if they received campaign contributions from PennEast and the answer was no.

PennEast is a supervising entity, that is, it keeps costs for the pipeline and serves an administrative role. PennEast is supported by local gas companies like UGI who contribute to political candidates. As Scavello pointed out, campaign contributions are a matter of public record.

FERC's power to use eminent domain comes from accepted policy that a project, in this case the pipeline, is for the public good.

Several residents questioned the public good because most of the gas in the pipeline will be for export. Natural gas exacts a far higher price overseas. No one mentioned that reducing the import/export balance of payments is a worthwhile goal. Grand buildings in Dubai were built with money received from exporting oil.

No one from those opposing the pipeline changed sides because of the meeting. Concerned Citizens Against the Pipeline (CCAP) claims to have thousands of members hailing from Luzerne County to Trenton, N.J. The Marcellus Protest group contends that fracking is dangerous to your health, the environment and pushes sustainable businesses out of Pennsylvania.