Several Chester County leaders will have boots on the ground and  work to responsibly channel the flow of the area’s gush of new natural gas pipelines, according to selections made for the Pennsylvania Pipeline Infrastructure Task Force.

State Sen. Andy Dinniman will lead the charge as one of two lawmakers in the group, with help from numerous other local experts and stakeholders, including Commissioner Kathi Cozzone, Cristina Jorge Schwartz of Apex Companies in Malvern and former Pennsylvania Public Utility Commissioner Wayne Gardner who is now with WE Gardner Co. in Downingtown.

Together they are responsible for recommending policies, guidelines and best practices for the massive pipeline growth.

“I look forward to working with my fellow members to make recommendations that take into account environmental protection and public safety concerns, as well as the preservation of local control and individual property rights,” Dinniman said. “I hope we can find a way to continue to take advantage of the economic rewards and energy benefits of the Marcellus Shale without jeopardizing the progress we have made in Chester County in terms of public safety and environmental preservation.”

In addition, task force members’ decisions will be informed by another 101 people in 12 issue-based workgroups, including local leaders like West Whiteland Township Supervisor George Turner on the Emergency Preparedness Workgroup, Tredyffrin Township Supervisor Mark Freed and East Bradford Supervisor Vince Pompo on the

Local Government Workgroup, Lynda Farrell of the Pipeline Safety Coalition on the Pipeline Safety and Integrity Workgroup and Eileen Juico of Chester Springs on the Public Participation Workgroup.

With a meeting in Harrisburg, the task force will get its start July 22 in planning, siting and routing pipelines; amplifying and engaging in meaningful public participation; maximizing opportunities for predictable and efficient permitting; employing construction methods that reduce environmental and community impacts; and developing long-term operations and maintenance plans to ensure pipeline safety and integrity.