As it awaits the outcome of its applications to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and Delaware River Basin Commission, the PennEast Pipeline Company recently gained a very important supporter in state Sen. John Yudichak.

In a letter to FERC dated Feb. 9, Yudichak asked the agency to approve the 114-mile pipeline, which would cut through Kidder, Penn Forest, Towamensing and Lower Towamensing townships in Carbon County on its way from Luzerne County to New Jersey."Safety and environmental protection are primary concerns of mine," Yudichak said. "Ensuring that our air, water and land resources are protected for the future is very important to me and my constituents. Also important are the opportunities the pipeline will bring for lower energy costs and increased standard of living."The senator said the pipeline would alleviate some of the natural gas bottlenecks in Pennsylvania and elsewhere."We have an abundant reserve of low-cost natural gas but a lack of capacity to move it," he added. "Not only would the PennEast pipeline increase the availability of Pennsylvania natural gas but it would create thousands of good-paying jobs."It has been estimated that electric and natural gas users in eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey would have saved $893 million on their utility bills had the PennEast pipeline been in operation in 2013-2014, Yudichak noted.The announcement comes at a time when many Carbon County residents are speaking out against the project.Around 30 members of the Save Carbon County group hosted an event last week during which landowners were encouraged not to sign a right-of-way easement if approached by agents working for PennEast.Penn Forest, Kidder, Lower Towamensing and Towamensing townships have all passed resolutions opposing the pipeline. Mahoning Township, which is not in the path of the pipeline, also opposes it.PennEast applied to FERC in September for a certificate of public convenience and necessity.FERC is currently conducting its environmental analysis of the proposed project in preparation to release an environmental-impact statement.The impact statement will describe the potential environmental effects of the pipeline and alternatives. It will also describe PennEast's proposed construction procedures and mitigation measures, and make recommendations for additional mitigation and/or conservation measures to avoid or reduce effects on the environment.On Feb. 10, FERC sent PennEast a letter requesting more information as it conducts its review.Pertaining to Carbon County, FERC asked for "a discussion of the location of the project in relation to the Palmerton Zinc Pile superfund site, including the 1-mile buffer zone, and discussion of potential impacts of the pipeline on the Superfund site."PennEast submitted its application to the Delaware River Basin Commission on Feb. 10.The commission plans to schedule at least one public hearing on the submission.If approvals are granted from the commission and FERC, PennEast anticipates beginning construction of the pipeline in spring of 2017.