Marcellus Shale

The Marc-1 Pipeline, Pennsylvania’s Latest

Dave Chittick
Sullivan County Landowner
Marc-1 Lessee

It has been two and a half years since we first became aware of a company named Central New York Oil and Gas (CYNOG) and their proposal to transition across one half mile of our beautiful forested property in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania with the new Marc-1 pipeline.  I have thoroughly enjoyed this property ever since my first experience in 1949 when I was 6 years old.  My grandparents, parents, siblings and I, along with three other families, appreciated the wonderment of the fauna and the flora that gave an opportunity for discovery and adventure that was totally different from our family farm, 130 miles away in Bucks County.

When we received the proposal from CNYOG, I was reminded of my experience decades ago when our farm acreage was condemned by PECO for a high tension line over our 4 acres of our wooded stream acreage.  I also observed a pipeline installed on a neighboring farm, as well as a very large natural gas pipeline installed at the edge of our closest town.

Today, since the town has grown significantly, that same pipeline is now an integral part of the community, with large expensive homes, townhouses, condos and shopping centers built adjacent to the right-of-way (ROW).  At this point in time, the average community person, as well as I, have forgotten or are totally unaware of the ROW’s existence. So what does this say about the long range visual impact of numerous transmission pipelines crisscrossing Bucks County? And I hardly even notice the high tension lines overhead. From my perspective it is providing necessary energy beyond the borders of our state with little awareness of their existence.

As president of our LLC property in Sullivan County I was concerned about the impact of the ROW in the immediate future as well as for the long range. I remember in the past also being concerned about the significant impact of timber harvesting on this same property, with logging roads being constructed, the destruction of trees, and the unsightliness of that work. Today, those logging roads are now hiking trails and provide access by vehicles to retrieve firewood with almost no evidence of the past timbering that occurred.

Gas Pipeline Corridor

Over the past twenty years, due to beach scale and subsequent fungus invasion, we have lost all of our beautiful beech trees that had provided a significant mast crop for all wildlife that lived on our property. In the process of reaching an agreement with CNYOG we came to the realization that with their cooperation a food-plot 75’ wide by one-half mile long would be feasible. This food-plot is now part of our signed agreement. Studies have proven that having a food-plot provides significant nutrients for all wildlife. This is especially important when there is no readily accessible agriculture in the area.

Last fall I was introduced to Randy Parker, the project manager for CNYOG. I have found him to be very helpful and quick to respond to any questions or concerns that our corporation had. I look forward to one day meeting him in person to personally thank him for his willingness to be open and honest in our relationship.

Today, it may be easy to be overly concerned about this pipeline project and our own personal opposition to it. But tomorrow, let’s not forget the greater positive impact this project will have in providing vast amounts of energy to the numerous end users. The shareholders of our corporation have chosen to turn the negative aspects into a positive experience.

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