Published February 11. 2016 12:33PM
Save Carbon County is trying to raise awareness to easements currently being offered to landowners along the proposed PennEast pipeline route.
Dr. Sue Ann Lewine and Roy Christman from the group attended the county commissioners' meeting this morning to announce that a protest will take place from 11 a.m. to noon Friday in front of the courthouse annex in Jim Thorpe.Lewine said that the reason for the protest was to "try to bring people's attention to the easement offers and how one-sided they are."She said there will be events held along the route of the pipeline tomorrow by various groups.Lewine urged landowners to read the easement offers carefully and ask an attorney's expert opinion before signing anything.Christman said that through discussions with the PennEast land agents, he and his wife learned that by signing the easement, it would give permission for another pipeline to be installed at a later time without any additional compensation, as well as allow the company to come on landowners' properties without notice to do maintenance of the pipeline while landowners assume the liability.He urged landowners to come out to the protest.Lewine added that landowners will also have the chance to ask questions about easement offers at a meeting at 7 p.m. Feb. 18, at the Towamensing Fire Company. Experts will be on hand to provide landowners with options regarding the easements.
Roy Christman, left, speaks to the Carbon County Commissioners during their weekly meeting on Thursday, as Dr. Sue Ann Lewine looks on. In front of him sits a sign the group Save Carbon County created for a protest on Friday. AMY MILLER/TIMES NEWS