Northampton County Council learned at its Aug. 5 what to expect from the proposed PennEast Pipeline, which would run through Northampton County.

David Messersmith, of Penn State Extension and a Governor Wolf appointee to the Pa. Pipeline Infrastructure Taskforce, presented council with information regarding the proposed pipeline which would transport natural gas a distance of 105-miles from Wilkes-Barre to Trenton, New Jersey.

Messersmith, who is neither advocating for or against the pipeline, noted it is one of 12 or 13 pipelines extending for 3,000 miles in Pennsylvania and surrounding states. He described PennEast Pipeline as an interstate pipeline that will be regulated at first by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and later, by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT).

He described the pipe as between 20-42 inches, with a pressure of 500-1400 psi, and capable of delivering 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas every day. The pipe will be buried three feet underground. There will be a compressor station, located north of Northampton County, along with seven interconnects or laterals. One of these will be in Northampton County, near the proposed inland rail port. He indicated the pipe will last 50-70 years without replacement.

Ninety per cent of the land acquired for this 50-foot wide pipeline will be acquired by private negotiation, though PennEast will have the power to use eminent domain.

What can local officials do? According to Messersmith, they should consult with project sponsors, educate residents, increase training of first responders and adopt ordinances that manage new development near the pipeline. He indicated that FERC will likely honor the state Safe Streams Act, but not local ordinances that attempt to regulate it.

Are pipelines safe? According to Messersmith a study of safety over a 20-year period involving 10,000 miles of pipeline reveals that there are 2.6 incidents per year. Over that time, there have only been two injuries and no fatalities.

He told council member Lamont McClure that in New Jersey, a property tax is assessed on the easement. In Pennsylvania, it will be assessed on the property owner.

In Bethlehem Township, a consultant hired to study the impact of the pipeline is expected to present his findings known later this month or in September.