LAPORTE, Pa. — A judge has issued a temporary halt to
construction and tree clearing on a natural gas pipeline in northern Pennsylvania's
pristine Endless Mountains that's embroiled in a court fight over eminent domain.
The order Friday from the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
ordered work to stop on the 39-mile MARC I natural gas pipeline until a
three-judge panel takes up the case Feb. 28.
Some landowners are in court fighting the company building
the pipeline.
They say Central New York
Oil & Gas refused to negotiate in good faith on either monetary
compensation or the pipeline's route.
The company says the stoppage means hundreds of workers
won't be earning paychecks.