Dear Ms. Gouger,

Thank you for keeping your readers informed of the effects of the proposed pipeline that PennEast/UGI wants to force upon Carbon County. The two front-page articles that appeared in the July 24 edition of the Times News cause us to empathize with the property owners who must fight to preserve the homes and land that they love.All residents of Carbon County are threatened by this project whether or not PennEast/UGI is planning to take their personal property. Our health and safety is threatened by the very real possibility of gas leaks and explosions.Our economic security is threatened by the probability of decreased resale values of our homes and increased insurance rates. Our tourism industry, dependent on the natural beauty of Carbon County, will suffer.According to PennEast's maps, public lands such as Hickory Run State Park, Beltzville State Park, Weiser State Forest, State Game Lands and the Appalachian National Scenic Trail are all within the proposed path of this pipeline.These lands belong to all of us and need to be protected for future generations. The current proposed route of the pipeline also crosses Mud Run and the pristine forest of the Bethlehem Municipal Water Authority.If built, this pipeline will permanently scar the landscape, force wildlife from their habitat and open woodlands and fields to invasive species of plants. Will toxic herbicides then be used to "maintain" the right of way over the pipeline? What effect will this have on our water supplies and fisheries?Please continue to investigate and report on the effects that this pipeline will have on Carbon County. We rely on good journalism for the facts to learn how to protect ourselves.Yours truly,Loyola SchirraPenn forest