As plans for an interstate natural gas pipeline running through Carbon County progress, environmentalists are doubling down on their efforts to fight it.

Officials with the PennEast Pipeline Company LLC officially made their application to the federal government late last month.On Thursday, local environmental groups held a press conference at a natural spring located near the proposed route, joining anti-pipeline protests that have been occurring in virtually every county the pipeline touches.The event was held by Roy Christman, a retired environmental studies professor who lives in Towamensing Township, and the Aquashicola/Pohopoco Watershed Conservancy.Representatives raised their concern with the environmental damage that could occur during the construction of the line, and by potential gas leaks."As always, a project like this is a cost-benefit scenario: All of the costs are born by the residents and other species living in the area, and all of the benefits go to companies who are there just to make a profit," said Suann Lewine, speaking on behalf of the conservancy.The current proposed route for the pipeline would pass through Kidder, Penn Forest, Towamensing and Lower Towamensing townships. Much of their concern is focused on local waterways and aquifers.Christman said the pipeline could compromise drinking water not only for local residents, but potentially the more than 100,000 residents in the Bethlehem area who get their water from reservoirs here.The most imminent concern would be presented by the pipeline construction, Christman said. Blasting needed to construct the pipeline could result in groundwater contamination, and potentially damage the Wild Creek Reservoir."PennEast/UGI seems to take the attitude of Alfred E. Newman, which is 'What, me worry?'" he said.The proposed route also passes over the single main carrying water from the reservoirs to the Lehigh Valley not once, but twice. Christman said that an explosion could be disastrous for the area's drinking water supply."Were a pipeline explosion to occur, 115,000 people could be without water for months," he said.The pipeline would also create a permanent open corridor through the forest, maintained with herbicide, that could adversely affect local plant and animal species, Lewine said.A recent environmental study commissioned by the property owners identified four federally listed animal species - one endangered, two threatened and one rare."The permanent open corridor will be 50 feet across, leading to further fragmentation of the forest and providing a pathway for invasive plants," Christman said.