Towamensing residents turned out in record numbers for a discussion of the PennEast pipeline following a township business meeting this week.

Karl Rolappe of the Towamensing Historical Commission said the pipeline would cross six properties on the Commission's list of 100 years or older structures and that three preserved farms would be affected.Linda Christman gave each person a copy of the resolution that the group was hoping the township would support. Following it was a page of instruction on the process of becoming an intervener rather than just a commenter at hearings.She said Towamensing faces threats from the government. It already has two reservoirs that changed the township from agriculture to recreation. Farms, houses and bridges were taken and cannot be replaced."PennEast takes rights away from the township. PennEast's 100-foot pathways will be there forever. We feel helpless," she said asking supervisors to stand up for the residents.Christman recalled when there were plans to flood Strohl's Valley for a hydroelectric plant and it was defeated. "Register as interveners. It gives you a right to be heard. It is important because the plan can change dramatically. Compressor stations can be changed," she said.If the township is sued about its participation it can rescind the resolution by a simple motion. Towamensing is the most affected of any township in Carbon County.Roy Christman, a political science teacher at San Jose University, which included constitutional law, was the next speaker. He and Linda live on Pohopoco Drive and expressed the intent of forcing PennEast to use eminent domain since the family lost much of their land, the largest farm in the township, to Bethlehem Watershed and then to Beltzville Lake.The Fifth Amendment requires that no private property shall be taken for public use without just compensation. Since then corporations have been given the right to use eminent domain. The Natural Gas Act has given common carrier pipelines, those that carry gas for more than one company, that right.Christman believes that the Supreme Court has misread the Fifth Amendment and that a future court will change the amendment.The fracked gas will be shipped overseas and help our balance of payments, making it in the public interest.When Beltzville took land, the Christmans were assured the forest below Wild Creek Falls would be preserved for public use.Christman said a 100-foot swath will be cut through the area. He urged people to submit their objections to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.Estella Tsantes submitted her comments via a letter. She said she has a small home and does not want a pipeline across her land, which has wetlands and agriculture.It was read by Diane Conner. Conner said the pipeline is of a 36-inch diameter and will cover 108 miles. One billion cubic feet of gas will pass through it per day.Gaston Bullrich said the company wants to increase its private value and so it tries to save money and chooses the cheapest and easiest pathway.He believes it will increase local gas prices when gas is shipped overseas."A private company is using the government to help themselves," he said.Prateek Patnaik said, "We walked around the lake this morning and saw how green it is, nearly untouched. Along Pohopoco Drive you have a treasure. Maybe you need an outsider like me to tell you how important it is."We paid a high price for our log cabin, and property values would go down. You have to clear up radon to sell a property, but the compression stations emit a lot of radon," he said.Tammy Plevretes said she chose her home for its beauty and a place where a handicapped son could go outside and drive on pathways.Connie Beiling of the planning commission thanked everyone who had done research and shared it.Supervisor Penny Kleintop said residents were informative and well-spoken."We tried to get representatives to come but they canceled at the 11th hour. The township keeps updating a list of websites where more information can be found."Supervisor Guy Seifert told the group to form a committee of five to work with the supervisors.Linda Christman said she thought a letter might bear more influence if it came from the supervisors. The federal energy commission looks at how many people will force the company to request eminent domain.Since residents all along the pipeline got started early, it helps. Seventeen townships have passed resolutions.Roy Christman said anyone asked to sign anything should have an attorney.