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The PennEast pipeline will not be built after all. A Lehigh Valley landowner reacts

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Megan Frank
/
LehighValleyNews.com
Linda Christman was at a rally in Trenton, New Jersey in July. She started fighting the PennEast plan seven years ago in order to protect her family’s 100-year-old farm in Lehighton, Pennsylvania. To do it, she founded the group “Save Carbon County.”

LEHIGHTON, Pa. - This week, PennEast Pipeline said it would stop developing a proposed pipeline from Pennsylvania to New Jersey.

The route included parts of the Lehigh Valley. 

It’s the latest in a series of natural gas companies to halt plans due to legal and regulatory challenges. 

Linda Christman started fighting PennEast’s plan seven years ago in order to protect her family’s 100-year-old farm in Lehighton. To do it, she founded the group “Save Carbon County.”  

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PennEast Pipeline said it would stop developing a proposed pipeline from Pennsylvania to New Jersey. The route included parts of the Lehigh Valley. It’s the latest in a series of natural gas companies to halt plans due to legal and regulatory challenges. Photo | Megan Frank / WLVR

“We’re a group of impacted landowners and environmentalists,” Christman explained at a July rally in Trenton, N.J.

But, the pipeline will not be. PennEast says it didn’t receive required permits, including a water quality certification in New Jersey. 

Today, Christman says she’s very happy with their decision to pull out.

“We didn’t think we could enjoy our property knowing that there is a 36-inch natural gas pipeline carrying explosive gas that close to the house,” Christman said.