BY ROBERT L. BAKER
Times-Shamrock Writer
Alex Lotorto, of Silver Lake, spoke about the potential impacts of the proposed Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline project during an informational meeting held last week in Tunkhannock.
About 60 persons showed up last Wednesday at the Tunkhannock Library for an informational meeting about the Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline project.
Alex Lotorto of Silver Lake conducted the meeting, noting he was there on behalf of the Energy Justice Network and Clean Air Council, which he described as a non-profit dedicated to protecting everyone’s right to breathe clean air.
He noted that if constructed, the Williams Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline would include 56 miles of 30-inch transmission pipeline in Susquehanna, Wyoming and Luzerne counties, with one new 30,000 horsepower compressor station. The pipeline is being proposed so significant quantities of Marcellus shale natural gas can be shipped away to national and international markets.
The meeting gave residents along the proposed pipeline route an opportunity to voice their opinions about the project, and Lotorto said he was there to ensure that they are not left out of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) process that eventually will review the project.
With a PowerPoint presentation, Lotorto spoke of potential impacts of the project and tried to identify landowners’ rights as well as those of community members living near the proposed route.
Sam Koplinka-Loehr of the Clean Air Council talked of the non-profit group’s successes in other counties such as Lancaster and Lebanon to make sure the public had a voice in slowing the process down by speaking in opposition to development, but said the thrust of any local group formed could be whatever it wanted to be.
Tunkhannock resident Dave Kintner asked about who was providing financial backing to the Clean Air Council, and noted that “No one from Philadelphia has ever come up here seriously wanting to know what we would like to do.”
Others voiced concern that Wyoming County residents couldn’t even tap into the Marcellus under their feet because of gas distribution regulations with UGI holding tariff restrictions, but “now you’re wanting us to tell you about taking it away?”
Joyce Colvin of Clinton Township, whose property is in the pathway of the proposed pipeline, said she attended a Williams-sponsored hearing at Keystone College in June, and said she was at Wednesday’s meeting because she was just interested in hearing a different perspective.
Williams in June noted that the proposed Central Penn North Pipeline part of the Atlantic Sunrise Project would run through approximately 26 miles in Wyoming County, possibly affecting about 175 land owners including areas in Overfield, Clinton and Nicholson townships.
The whole project would include 56.4 miles, also including Susquehanna and Luzerne counties.
Following last Wednesday’s PowerPoint, there was small group discussion with the larger group reassembling but without consensus about a specific direction to take.
However, Latorto said he hoped a local Wyoming-Susquehanna interest group could be formed that would have some standing in speaking up during the FERC process over the next year or so.
Those present agreed to meet again at the Tunkhannock Library on Wednesday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m.
It was noted that the Atlantic Sunrise Project is currently in the scoping period for an environmental impact statement and no permit application has been filed.
To comment on the impact statement, go to www.ferc.gov under ‘Documents and Filings,’ and ‘eComment.”
Williams has stated it plans on filing a formal application sometime early next year.
For more information about local efforts contact Latorto at 570-281-2215 or Sam Koplinka-Loehr of the Clean Air Council at 215-567-4004, ext. 115.
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