Whether it was the impassioned plea of a mother fighting for the open space her son uses for recreation or a resident using her allotted three minutes to read lyrics from a Disney movie, the message from the majority of speakers Wednesday night at Penn's Peak was clear: "We don't want the pipeline."

More than 120 people attended the scoping meeting hosted by the Federal Regulatory Energy Commission, the agency that will cast the yes or no vote on the proposed 114-mile PennEast natural gas pipeline.FERC officials said they will use the comments when drafting an environmental impact statement on the project, slated to carry natural gas through Luzerne, Carbon, Northampton, and Bucks counties in Pennsylvania, and Hunterdon and Mercer counties in New Jersey.Those who chose to speak in front of FERC wasted no time expressing their opinions.For Tammy Plevretes of Palmerton, the issue is personal.She moved to the area in 2013, eight years after her son Preston suffered a traumatic brain injury while playing football for LaSalle University."While he sat in his wheelchair, he said he missed driving the most," Tammy said. "We moved to a place in the country that was touched by God, but untouched by development, malls and corporations. Preston could drive on our land because he was unable to drive on the highway. Now, we face another fight trying to protect his health and welfare."Three-minute limitBefore Plevretes, it was a Lower Towamensing Township resident who caught FERC's attention when she used her time to read the lyrics from "Colors of the Wind," featured in the Disney film, "Pocahontas."The three-minute time limit for comments drew the ire of many speakers, including Victoria Opthof-Cordaro, a Palmerton-based attorney."I think you need to listen to everyone's statements in order to give a detailed analysis," she said. "Cutting people off doesn't give you the whole picture."Environmental and safety concerns were a common theme throughout the night.Michael Sauers of Towamensing Township said the pipeline would leave a permanent wound along its path through public and private land."It will be destructive to an ecological and historical environment," he said. "The pipeline will support the shale gas extraction business and it's unsustainable. They're going to transport shale to an energy marketplace where it will be sold to the highest bidder."Scott Bubbenmoyer, also of Towamensing Township, said PennEast representatives lied to him when they told him his neighbors had signed off easement rights to their property and he should as well."If they lied about that, how can I believe them about safety issues or maintenance of the pipeline when it is in place," he said.Kayakers and canoeistsRoy Christman, of the 6400 block of Pohopoco Drive, expressed concern over the pipeline's proposed 50-foot corridor through the ravine across Wild Creek Cove. It's ravine he said is used by kayakers and canoeists."It's not the only travesty in Carbon County, Christman said. "The pipeline will also run through Hickory Run State Park and the Lehigh Gorge State Park."Charles Weber, of Kidder Township, told FERC his land will lose value and a compressor station planned for the municipality could lead to health hazards.Carbon Commissioners Wayne Nothstein and William O'Gurek both questioned the project.Nothstein said he wants to see property owners fairly compensated for losses or damages during construction, including an annual easement fee, while O'Gurek said there are no assurances the gas will even stay in the United States.PennEast has historically vowed, and did again Wednesday, that the gas is not for exportation to foreign countries. A representative also touted the 2,500 family-sustaining jobs the pipeline construction would create.SupportersA handful of supporters did speak in favor of the pipeline including Dave Horn, member of the Laborers International Union of North America."The project will bring jobs and much needed revenue to an area of the state desperate for those type of opportunities, Horn said. "Opponents are quick to point out that the jobs from pipeline construction are not permanent. All construction jobs are temporary, but it's a steady string of temporary jobs that help union workers earn a living."John Augustine, a member of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, said the pipeline can help re-energize the region's economy and it's safer than you maythink"It will result in lower utility bills," he said. "Toxic air pollution is actually down 14 percent thanks to natural gas."In its environmental impact statement, FERC is expected to address geology, soils, water resources, wetlands, vegetation and wildlife, fisheries and aquatic resources, threatened and endangered species, socioeconomics, cultural resources, air quality and noise, public safety and reliability, and cumulative environmental impacts, among other topics.FERC is receiving public comment for the impact statement until Feb. 27.Comments can be filed at

www.ferc.gov.You can also send comments to:Kimberly D. Bose,Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St. NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.