EWING — Hundreds of people turned out in Ewing Wednesday to speak out on the impact of the proposed PennEast pipeline, a project that has met fierce opposition since it was first announced in August.

About 90 people signed up for a three-minute turn to speak at the public hearing, with most of the crowd overwhelmingly against the project.

The 114-mile, 36-inch-diameter pipeline would span six counties, stretching from Luzerne County in northeast Pennsylvania to Hopewell Valley in Mercer County. It would carry about 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas a day.

This was the fourth of five scoping meetings held by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The only other meeting in New Jersey is set for Thursday at The Grand Colonial in Hunterdon County.

The public meetings are part of the agency's assessment of the environmental effects of the proposed pipeline. The public has until Friday to submit written comments, which, along with the meetings, will be considered when FERC staff members write a draft environmental impact statement.

Opponents said the pipeline would cut through acres of farmland, open space and environmentally sensitive land that voters have spent hard-earned dollars to preserve.

"That investment will be squandered and the lands spoiled by allowing a pipeline to interfere with our preservation goals," state Sen. Shirley Turner (D-Mercer) said.

Several people said that the project would threaten the future of land preservation programs.

"Who's going to want to preserve their property if it's going to make them a target for a pipeline in the future?" said Alix Bacon, a regional manager for New Jersey Conservation Foundation, pointing to a map that shows the path of the pipeline traversing through preserved lands.

Others called on the agency to co-locate the pipeline along existing rights of way and take into account the cumulative impact of the PennEast pipeline and other pipelines that have been proposed or recently completed.

Many questioned the necessity of the pipeline, advocating for the no-build alternative.

"There are enough environmental reasons to deny the pipeline," said Doug O'Malley, director of Environment New Jersey. "The pipeline would tear a massive ecological scar right through the heart of Central Jersey."

Jeff Tittel, executive director of the Sierra Club's New Jersey chapter, alluded to the region's history.

"Back then, we were invaded by the British and Hessians. Now it's the natural gas companies and pipelines," he said. "They're today's Hessians trying to take our land. ... This pipeline turns 50 years of public policy and change on its head."

Maya van Rossum, the Delaware Riverkeeper, said the pipeline serves only to profit the shale gas industry at the expense of the health and safety of residents.

"We will defend our rivers, we will defend our watersheds ... with our voices, with our lawyers and with our bodies," she screamed over the moderator who was telling her that she exceeded the time limit.

Residents said they fear that the pipeline would threaten waterways, agriculture, wildlife habitats and property values.

Ken Collins encouraged landowners to post "No Trespassing" signs around their properties, which he said would leave PennEast no choice but to take them to court for eminent domain proceedings.

"Do not let them on your property. ... Stand your ground and we will all stand with you," he said, to a standing ovation.

Others expressed concern about the risks and hazards associated with pipelines.

Edward Kelly, a Hopewell Township resident, rattled off a list of recent explosions from Tuesday's explosion in Stafford Township to the one last year in Ewing.

"Gas is volatile. Pipelines are dangerous. Accidents do happen. People do die," he said.

Among the few supporters of the project were gas companies and union laborers. Brian MacLean, president of Elizabethtown Gas, said the interconnections would provide it with greater supply reliability and flexibility and an abundant source of domestic gas to serve its customers.

Several people called on FERC to extend the comment period and schedule additional meetings.

Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njtimes.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.