A U.S. Congressman is calling for an evidentiary hearing to "determine the legitimate need" for a proposed 118-mile pipeline running through Carbon County.

Matt Cartwright submitted a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last week urging the action before the agency proceeds with an environmental-impact statement and certificate of need for the $1.2 billion PennEast Pipeline."Foreseeably, there would be significant and irreversible long term negative impacts to land, air quality, animals, recreation, agriculture, forests, neighborhoods, wetlands and vegetation in the vicinity of the project," said Cartwright. "Given this, the project should not move forward in the absence of substantial evidence of public need."According to a recent PennEast news release, pending regulatory approval from FERC, the project has an estimated in-service date of the second half of 2018."This approximately four-year timeline demonstrates the rigorous pipeline review process in place," PennEast officials said in a response to a New Jersey Congresswoman who recently said she opposes the pipeline. "The existing process, administered by FERC, thoroughly considers need and extensively analyzes environmental impact. PennEast recognizes that some groups and individuals are opposed to the Project. However, simply because they object to the pipeline doesn't mean it is not needed, or that it isn't involved in a thorough environmental review."Cartwright is the second area legislator to speak out on the project.State Sen. John Yudichak, who like Cartwright is a Democrat, urged approval for the pipeline in February, saying it would alleviate some of the natural gas bottlenecks in Pennsylvania and elsewhere.The pipeline is proposed to run through much of Cartwright's district on its path from Luzerne County to Mercer County, New Jersey. The route cuts through Kidder, Penn Forest, Towamensing and Lower Towamensing townships in Carbon County."Its effects on natural resources and communities within my district include preserved public lands such as Hickory Run State Park and Weiser State Forest, and will affect many waterways including Mud Run, Yellow Run, Stony Creek, Wild Creek, the Lehigh River and Beltzville Lake," Cartwright said. "Furthermore, Carbon County planning commissioners have expressed that the PennEast/UGI project is not consistent with the adopted county or multicounty comprehensive plan and is not in compliance with the various Kidder Township, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and/or U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ordinances or regulatory requirements."Dozens of local residents have spoken against the project at public meetings and in letters to FERC.In addition, Cartwright said, hundreds along the route have registered as intervenors in opposition to the project."At least six municipalities along the route in Carbon and Luzerne counties have passed resolutions opposing the project," he said. "These numbers speak for themselves."FERC plans to have its environmental impact statement for the project completed by Dec. 16.