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Hearing Set For Natural Gas Pipeline

RINGWOOD, N.J. (AP/1010 WINS) -- The Federal Energy Regulation Commission will hold a hearing Monday night on plans to build a natural gas pipeline in New Jersey.

The hearing in Ringwood will examine Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company's proposal that it calls the "Northeast Upgrade."

The Star-Ledger of Newark reports the company is already building a gas line along more than 16 miles in the Highlands region. It wants to extend ends of the line through another 16.5 miles of northern New Jersey.

Opponents say any new gas line could run along highways. They also question a new drilling procedure to be used in a rock bed formation stretching across several states.

"The natural gas pipeline will cross a tremendous amount of public, open space that is vulnerable and sensitive open space that has been preserved -- not to be used for utilities," Julia Somers, Executive Director of the New Jersey Highlands Coalition, told 1010 WINS.

The project would bring up to 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas each day to the Northeast.

(Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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