October 19th, 2016 by WCBC Radio

Citizens from the region will gather to protest the proposed Columbia Gas pipeline on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park in Hancock near the bike shop.

Columbia Gas has applied for a permit from the National Park Service to do survey work in the park just west of Hancock.

The permit has yet to be granted and the park service is in the process of reviewing it.

If granted, Columbia Gas would then apply for a permit for access to the park to begin digging a tunnel under the park and river.

The Columbia Gas pipeline would take fracked gas from Pennsylvania and ship it to West Virginia and points east.

The Sunday protest in Hancock coincides with a 313-mile walk across Maryland to celebrate and protect water by supporting a statewide ban on fracking.

“Fracking involves more than just the act of extracting natural gas, but also includes infrastructure needed to move the gas through pipelines, refine, compress, power, liquefy, and finally export the gas out of this country,” said Kimberly Alexander and Aeryn Boyd who are leading the walk.

“We are inviting people to be a part of our performances as we raise awareness across the state and celebrate water.” 

Alexander and Boyd have already walked from Oakland to Cumberland.