"EPA Questions Need for Gas Line Through Pa. Forest"

"ALLENTOWN, Pa. -- Federal environmental regulators are questioning the rationale of a proposed 39-mile natural gas pipeline that opponents say would damage 600 acres of pristine forests and streams in northern Pennsylvania's Endless Mountains region.

Central New York Oil and Gas Company LLC is seeking regulatory approval to use eminent domain, if necessary, to acquire land for its MARC 1 pipeline in Bradford, Sullivan and Lycoming counties. The pipeline could open new areas to drilling and would connect with three existing interstate pipelines to take natural gas produced from the giant Marcellus Shale formation to market.

In written comments this week, the federal Environmental Protection Agency said it's not clear why the MARC 1 needs to be built at all, given existing pipeline infrastructure."

Michael Rubinkam reports for the Associated Press July 14, 2011.