The Tennessee Gas Pipeline has submitted an application for another new pipeline, the so-called Orion Project, which should be of concern to all residents of Pike County. In response, The Lackawaxen River Conservancy, together with the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Energy Justice Network, and other concerned groups, is hosting a public information meeting on Tuesday, November 17th, 6:30 pm at the Lackawaxen Township Volunteer Fire Department (Rte. 590, near the Zane Grey Bridge).

If approved, this new pipeline would seriously impact the Lackawaxen River, its tributaries and wetlands within its watershed. According to the TGP application, it would cut across 26 streams, including the Lackawaxen River, Tinkwig Creek, Indian Orchard Brook, and West Falls Creek. The two proposed Orion Loop 322 and Loop 323 would cut across an additional 47 wetlands, of which at least 19 of these wetlands are forested. The pipeline company asserts there are at least 10 private water wells located within 150 feet of the pipeline route and 2,126 feet of steep slopes to be traversed by the pipeline.

Landowners along the right of way are especially encouraged to attend the Nov. 17th meeting to explore their rights when faced with eminent domain, pipeline impacts, and easement offers.

In addition, every resident can intervene now on the FERC Docket for this pipeline project to preserve their right to bring a legal challenge should they wish to do so down the road or to show their concern and opposition for the pipeline project. The deadline to intervene in time is November 16th. .

Please plan to attend this important meeting, and invite your friends and neighbors to join you.

Carmen Francesco is the 2015 winner of The Lackawaxen River Conservancy Scholarship for College Students.  Carmen attends Prescott College in Prescott, Arizona where she is entering her junior year.  She is a 2013 graduate of Honesdale High School.

Carmen spent two-months this summer in an internship in India.  She was there under the auspices of Vidhayak Sansad, a non-profit organization that works for the socio-economic empowerment of deprived peoples in the Maharashtra region of India.  While she was there, Carmen worked at a girls’ school.  In addition to teaching and helping with English documentation, she helped the girls create a garden for vegetables and flowers, and she wrote bios for each of the 230 girls attending the school.

Prescott College specializes in experiential education in the liberal arts, the environment and social justice.  Carmen is currently pursuing a double major in Environmental and Social Justice, and Secondary History Education.   During fall semester, Carmen will work in an internship at the Church Center for the United Nations in New York.  While there, she will be running campaigns and educational seminars for climate justice.  She will carry her full complement of courses through independent studies, and will return to the Prescott campus spring semester.

Carmen has a deep commitment to protecting the environment.  “Through education and enlightenment, we can halt some of the irreversible damage man is causing and focus on preserving and living compatibly with nature, not destroying it.”