The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is soliciting comments on the proposed air quality plan approval for the construction and operation of the proposed PennEast compressor station in Kidder Township.

A public hearing is scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. March 1 at Split Rock Resort Lodge's Keystone Grand Ballroom.The 118-mile PennEast natural gas pipeline is projected to run through Lower Towamensing, Towamensing, Kidder and Penn Forest townships in Carbon County on its way from Wilkes-Barre to New Jersey.Of the route modifications filed in September, 26 are in Pennsylvania's Luzerne, Carbon and Northampton counties.According to documents filed at that time with FERC, owners of the Blue Mountain Ski Resort in Carbon County were working with PennEast to align the pipeline's path with a different ski slope than the one originally designated."This deviation avoids a hang gliding area and further avoids existing underground infrastructure - without increasing the potential for adverse environmental impact - while still directly benefiting a local employer."In consultation with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, in Carbon and Northampton counties, PennEast modified the crossing location of the Appalachian Scenic Trail to accommodate a trenchless crossing of the trail and the implied 400-foot buffer area surrounding the trail to avoid impacts to the trail's scenic viewshed.Not Bucks CountyThe proposed natural gas pipeline is not being rerouted through Bucks County, PennEast said last week, despite claims to the contrary by the Delaware Riverkeeper Network and New Jersey Sierra Club.Nothing has changed since route alternatives were submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Sept. 23."It's shameful that fringe environmental groups, principally the Delaware Riverkeeper Network and New Jersey Sierra Club, continue to deceive local communities and fool the media by regurgitating old rumors about the PennEast pipeline's proposed route," PennEast spokeswoman Pat Kornick said."PennEast is not recommending or proposing a new route that goes through central Bucks County. Any claims suggesting otherwise by the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, New Jersey Sierra Club or others are flat-out false."Jeff Tittel of the New Jersey Sierra Club, however, said it's PennEast that is continuing to put out misinformation.In November, Tittel issued a statement saying the latest route adds 20 miles through new areas, especially in Bucks County, "adding waterways such as wetlands and streams that will be disturbed that wouldn't have been beforehand."PennEast, Kornick said, responded to a technical data request from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in November concerning an area designated as an Important Bird Area."PennEast provided a hypothetical route that required an additional 20 miles of length and two Delaware River crossings, and concluded, 'it is preferable to utilize the currently proposed route and minimize impacts to the IBA and migratory birds by utilizing the appropriate avoidance and minimization measures,' " she added.Impact statementThe Federal Energy Regulatory Commission extended the planned release of its final environmental impact statement on the proposed PennEast pipeline by almost two months.The statement can now be expected by April 7 instead of by Feb. 17."Due to additional environmental information filed by PennEast and certain state agencies, the commission staff requires more time to analyze all the environmental data and prepare the final EIS," FERC said in a release.The New Jersey Sierra Club and Delaware Riverkeeper Network recently held a public forum at Palisades High School in Bucks County during which Maya van Rossum, the Delaware Riverkeeper, offered advice on how to challenge the pipeline."File as intervenor in the PennEast process with FERC, reach out to state and federal representatives, join or start organized groups fighting PennEast and join efforts to making governing bodies like the Delaware River Basin Commission and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection aware of public opposition to the pipeline," she said.Kornick suggested that if residents have questions or concerns, they should contact PennEast directly at 844-347-7119 or at

answers@penneastpipeline.com.