Marcellus shale gas deposits are sprouting numerous transmission stations, and with them, a grid of pipelines crisscrossing Pennsylvania.

But the location of the pipelines is secret.That information "is not part of the public record per a 2006 law that protects utility infrastructure information for homeland security purposes," said Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission spokeswoman Denise McCracken.While the PUC has jurisdiction over the state's 886 or so miles of intrastate pipelines, which serve consumers directly, interstate pipelines, those that cross state borders and carry gas to distributors, are regulated by the federal government. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has the final say in whether such pipelines can be built.However, there are 20 interstate natural gas pipelines snaking through the northeastern United States, according to the U.S. Energy Information Agency. As of 2008, there were 8,680 miles of gas pipeline in Pennsylvania.One of the newest pipelines, PennEast, would bisect Carbon County through Towamensing, Lower Towamensing, Penn Forest and Kidder townships on its 108-mile route from Wilkes-Barre to New Jersey.Public inputThis year, PennEast, based in Wyomissing, has contacted property owners in the proposed path of the 36-inch pipeline, held public hearings and "open house meetings," including one scheduled for 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Aquashicola Volunteer Fire Company, 290 Little Gap road., and submitted a pre-filing application to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.PennEast has just entered the third month of the three-year process to build the pipeline, spokeswoman Patricia Kornick said.Now it is in the pre-filing stage. This optional stage, before applying to FERC for permission, allows the company to get "early feedback from landowners, community leaders, regulatory and environmental agencies," Kornick said."We want to be able to obtain that feedback to determine the best route to maximize the opportunity for engagement while minimizing the impact to the community and the environment," she said. "This is the first formal step in engaging the public."That's the reason for the open house. The company will have experts on hand at the informal gathering. People will be able to talk with them on various subjects, including safety, engineering and construction, and where the proposed pipeline would be and how it may or may not affect their property, Kornick said.Samples of the material to be used in the pipeline will be available for people to look at, touch and handle, she said.QuestionsLandowners and people who live on the proposed route are expected to have lots of questions, including safety, compensation for land taken for the project, and environmental concerns.Bob Ackley, who operates the Gas Safety USA website, won't be at the open house Tuesday, but weighed in on the project."I have personally inspected transmission lines for over 30 years and never found a leak of any consequence. The danger is always there from potential earthquakes, floods, landslides, mechanical failure and damage from third parties (mainly damage caused by excavation with power equipment by people who are unaware of the pipeline's existence, also known as ignorant (people) operating heavy equipment). Public awareness and adherence to dig safe laws is critical to insure the public safety. I will say that you are always safer with no gas lines near your property," he said.As for environmental impact, Ackley says the "initial ripping apart of the landscape is quite dramatic to see, but after a few years the right of way will be visible but not as dramatic. The crossing of wetlands is always problematic and damaging. The siting and operation of compressor stations will have the most impact on (those living nearby). The compressor stations are typically noisy and have emissions of methane and other compounds."Kornick said there will be only one compressor station; the location has yet to be determined. As of now, about one-third of the pipeline will be "co-located," meaning it runs with existing gas pipelines, she said.AnswersBefore the official open house, Rep. Doyle Heffley will be sponsoring a meeting from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday at Penn Forest No. 1 Volunteer Fire Company's Whispering Pines Banquet Hall, on Route 903 in Jim Thorpe. A lawyer and an agronomist, an expert in soil management and crops, will be there to give input.Attorney Carl Engleman of Reading will tell landowners how to get the most money for their land if the company needs it for a right of way via negotiation or by eminent domain. The typical right of way for a pipeline is 75 feet to 100 feet wide, with extra room for road or stream crossings.He'll also talk about how important it is for people to get involved in the permitting process as early as possible.He will encourage people to file intervenors' requests with FERC."As an intervenor, you will have the ability to submit testimony and present evidence, he said.Here's a link explaining how to do that:

www.ferc.gov/help/how-to/intervene.aspEngleman will talk about the importance of conveying to PennEast how the pipeline would change the property owner's ability to use his land.Although giving testimony may not alter the plans, it may give the property owner a better negotiating position with PennEast, Engleman said.Penn State Extension agronomy educator Dave Messersmith of Wayne County will talk about how pipelines are built, how they are regulated, the permitting process, and how people can participate in that process."We will show photos of pipeline construction, and the process as it goes from land surveys to final restoration," he said. "The goal is to let people see what the process looks like. If the PennEast pipeline is approved and built, people will have an understanding of what the process looks like."