LISBON, Ohio - Another elected official representing Columbiana County has announced his support for construction of a natural gas pipeline that would pass through three townships in the county.

State Representative Tim Ginter has written a letter to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Secretary Kimberly Bose saying that the county would benefit from jobs and revenue created by the construction of the 250 mile pipeline that would stretch from Kensington to Canada.

Ginter joins Congressman Bill Johnson who earlier sent a letter to the FERC stating that the Nexus Gas Transmission project is important for his congressional district, which stretches from Columbiana County southward along the Ohio River.

Developers say the pipeline would link local natural gas resources to customers in Ohio, Michigan, Chicago and Ontario.

The project would connect the existing Kensington Processing Plant in Columbiana County to the Texas Eastern mainline extension Booster Station, as well as the Tennessee Gas Pipeline mainline.

Current plans would have the pipeline stretch through Hanover, West and Knox Townships in Columbiana County.

However some landowners near the proposed route in places such as Medina, Akron, Canton and the Toledo area have written letters expressing concerns about safety and other issues.

There is a grassroots effort to map out a more southerly route that would move the pipe away from some more urban areas.

Even if there is a successful effort to re-route the pipeline, it  would still be connected to the processing plant in southwestern Columbiana County.

Developers of the project have expressed a willingness to discuss other routes for the pipeline.

If the project meets with regulatory approval, construction would begin in two years, and the pipeline would go into service in November 2017.

The FERC meanwhile, has scheduled a series of meetings to gather public input on the potential environmental impact of the Nexus project, as well as the associated Texas Eastern Transmission (TEAL) project.

Information gathered at the sessions will be used by the Commission in its decision-making process to determine whether the NEXUS and TEAL Projects are in the public convenience and necessity.

Comments may be submitted in written or verbal form.

The Commission is inviting interested persons to attend any of the public scoping meetings at the following dates and locations:

Each meeting begins at 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday April 28

Midview Middle School
12865 Grafton Road, Grafton, OH

Wednesday April 29

Wadsworth High School
625 Broad Street, Wadsworth, OH

Thursday April 30

Louisville High School
1201 S. Nickelplate, Louisville, OH

Tuesday May 5

Tecumseh Center for the Arts
400 North Maumee, Tecumseh, MI

Wednesday May 6

Swanton High School
601 North Main Street, Swanton, OH

Thursday May 7

Fremont Ross High School
1100 North Street, Fremont, OH

The FERC will begin signing up of speakers at 5 p.m. The meetings will begin at 6 p.m. with a presentation by Commission staff on the environmental review process, after which speakers will be called.

The meeting will end once all speakers have provided their comments or at 10 p.m., whichever comes first.

There may be a time limit of three minutes to present comments, and speakers are being asked to structure their comments accordingly.

If time limits are implemented, the FERC says they will be strictly enforced to ensure that as many individuals as possible are given an opportunity to comment. The meetings are recorded by a stenographer to ensure comments are accurately recorded.

Transcripts will be entered into the formal record of the Commission proceeding. The Commission will provide equal consideration to all comments received, whether filed in written form or provided verbally at the scoping meeting.

NEXUS or Texas Eastern representatives will be present one hour prior to the start of the meetings to provide additional information about the projects and answer questions.

Three methods are available to submit comments to the Commission. In all instances, those making comments should reference the appropriate project docket number (PF15-10-000 for the NEXUS Project or PF15-11-000 for the TEAL Project) with each submission.

(1) Comments can be filed electronically using the eComment feature located on the Commission's Web site (www.ferc.gov) under the link to Documents and Filings. Interested persons may submit brief, text-only comments on a project.

(2) More detailed comments can be filed electronically using the eFiling feature located on the Commission's Web site (www.ferc.gov) under the link to Documents and Filings. With eFiling, comments can be submitted in a variety of formats by attaching them as a file with each submission. New eFiling users must first create an account by clicking on "eRegister." They must select the type of filing being submitted. Those filing a comment on a particular project must select "Comment on a Filing".

(3) Paper copies of comments can be mailed to the following address: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.

The Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and staff is available to assist filers at (202) 502-8258 or efiling@ferc.gov.

NEXUS and Texas Eastern has provided landowners with a fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled "An Interstate Natural Gas Facility on My Land? What Do I Need To Know?" The documents are designed to address a number of typically-asked questions, including the use of eminent domain and how to participate in the Commission's proceedings. It is also available for viewing on the FERC Web site (www.ferc.gov).