LEHIGHTON, Pa. — PennEast Pipeline has pulled the plug on a massive natural gas pipeline plan.
The project would have run through parts of our area in Luzerne and Carbon Counties on its way to New Jersey.
Along that proposed path, is Christman Farm in Towamensing Township near Lehighton. Linda Christman says she can sleep soundly knowing for certain her land is safe.
"I was jumping up and down so happy. I called everyone I know and gave them the news. We are definitely going to have a party somehow," said Linda Christman, Towamensing Township.
Penn East wanted to run a natural gas pipeline through local farmland in this part of Carbon County..and as Newswatch 16 told you last month, it was put on hold.
Penn East said in a statement, that without certain permits needed to complete the New Jersey end of the project, it has been determined that further development of the project is no longer supported.
People who have been against this project since the beginning say this is a big win, for the little guy.
"This process of building pipelines in this way has been going on since the 1930s. In all of that time, there's maybe a handful of pipelines that have been stopped," said Christman.
If the proposed pipeline had gone through, it would have cut diagonally across Christman Farm's property.
It's why Linda has been so vocal at trying to stop the project.
"Over and over again companies come here and take our water, they want to plop some industrial use right in the middle of a forest and why do they do it? Money. They are the only ones that make any money and they are the only ones who benefit and I'm tired of it," said Christman.
PennEast first announced the 116-mile pipeline in 2014.
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