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Misericordia hosted Communications and Media camp

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Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort resigns

WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Supporters and opponents congregated at Genetti&#8217;s in Wilkes-Barre Wednesday night to voice their opinions on the PennEast Pipeline Project&#8217;s Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).The Federal Energy Regulatory Committee (FERC) held a public forum allowing people to give 3 to 5 minute statements on their opinions and concerns about the pipeline and the EIS.The draft, <a href="http://www.ferc.gov/industries/gas/enviro/eis/2016/07-22-16-eis.asp" target="_blank">available on FERC&#8217;s website</a>, was issued July 22 and comment will be received in person or in writing until Sept. 12.There was no presentation from FERC or PennEast at the meeting, and all comments were recorded in separate rooms. Alisa Lykens, spokesperson for FERC, said the reason for the setup was to be able to get more comments from people. Those testimonies will then be posted on FERC&#8217;s website.&#8220;We are able to hear more people,&#8221; she said of the way the comment session was conducted.Those in opposition of the project said they didn&#8217;t think the setup allowed for a dialogue between the parties involved.The lobby was full of people for and against the project. Representatives from the Delaware Riverkeeper, an opponent to the pipeline, distributed signs that read &#8220;FERC doesn&#8217;t work,&#8221; &#8220;Don&#8217;t Frack with our air,&#8221; and &#8220;Don&#8217;t drill the Delaware.&#8221;They also handed out news releases and pre-typed statements people could use when giving their public comment.While representatives were not allowed to comment on behalf of the organization, the release stated the setup of the forum &#8220;cut out both the public and the ability to meaningly participate.&#8221;The pre-typed statement criticized FERC for not giving the public enough time to review the document before being allowed to comment on it.&#8220;We deserve a true hearing, one that allows us to hear what our neighbors have to say and learn from their comments,&#8221; the statement read.Dallas resident Diane Dreir, of the Gas Drilling Awareness Coalition of Luzerne County, said she has opposed gas drilling since she heard it arrived in the area six years ago. Dreir said she has several concerns over gas drilling, and the environmental impact of drilling is one.&#8220;Fossil fuels facilitate climate change,&#8221; she said. &#8220;We ought to make Pennsylvania a leader in clean energy.&#8221;Carl Marrara, vice president of government affairs for the Pennsylvania Manufacturers&#8217; Association, said the &#8220;environmental movement should be embracing this.&#8221;&#8220;Natural gas is the cleanest burning fossil fuel,&#8221; he said.In Marrara&#8217;s statement, he defended the project and talked about its immediate economic effect and the lasting impact it would have. Marrara said the pipeline project would create 12,160 jobs and generate $1.62 billion during the construction phase alone.&#8220;The economic impact of this project will have lasting results far beyond the construction of the pipeline in the manufacturing sector,&#8221; he said.Economic impact, specifically globally, is also a concern for Dreir. She is worried if natural gas is exported, domestic prices will go up and hurt our economy.&#8220;We don&#8217;t want Pennsylvania to become an extraction colony for the rest of the world,&#8221; she said. &#8220;We did that with coal and we know the outcome.&#8221;PennEast spokesperson Pat Kornick said exporting the gas should not be a concern for citizens because it won&#8217;t be exported.&#8220;It is not designed for export,&#8221; she said.<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By Brigid Edmundsbedmunds@www.timesleader.com</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta>To read the draft Environmental Impact Statement, it can be found online at www.tinyurl.com/z5835zz</factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach Brigid Edmunds at 570-991-6119 or on Twitter @TLNews</shirttailMeta></div>

Supporters and opponents comment on PennEast Pipeline Project’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).