State Rep. Doyle Heffley, R-Carbon, hosted a landowner's information session in Jim Thorpe on Monday evening to help the people in Carbon County who may be affected by the proposed gas pipeline.

"The goal of this meeting is to help property owners understand their rights under the law in regard to this project," Heffley said. "This isn't intended to sway anyone for or against the project, but to give them as much information as possible before it gets started."The forum comes on the eve of an information session scheduled by PennEast Pipeline Company. The PennEast meeting will be held from 5:30-7:30 this evening at the Aquashicola Volunteer Fire Company, located at 270 Little Gap Road in Palmerton.Heffley invited Dave Messersmith of the Penn State Extension to address those present on the nature of pipelines.Messersmith's presentation included slides which depicted the various stages of construction as well as important information regarding the regulation of the pipeline.Also present at the meeting was Reading attorney Carl Engleman, who has been practicing environmental and public utilities law for 16 years."We are in a pipeline boom," Engleman said. "Until now, this area hasn't really been impacted by the Marcellus shale drilling, but I believe that will change, this area will be impacted by the Utica shale drilling, it is deeper and more abundant than the Marcellus land sites."Engleman said the landowners need to become involved and stay informed."I suggest that you set up a folder in your email specific to information regarding this project. You can sign up for information with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and you will get tons of information regarding this project," he said."As a landowner impacted by this project you can do one of three things. You can do nothing, which I don't recommend. You can file a protest under FERC Rule 211, but that is just that, you go on record against the project. Or you can intervene under rule 214, which I recommend."Engleman made it clear that no matter what landowners decide, if the pipeline affects a property, it is critical that the person surrounds themself with a team of experts who know what they are doing."Depending on what the impact to your land is, you will need to have an attorney review any documents you are going to sign and you need a tax accountant," Engleman said.Engleman said part of a settlement will be construed as capital gains and part will be categorized as damages, each having a different tax impact.Lastly, Engleman cautioned landowners to beware of people who will contact them offering to assist them in all aspects of this process."There is no one person who can properly handle every aspect."Each area requires someone who specializes in that field," Engleman said.