The proposed route of the PennEast natural gas pipeline has been moved farther away from Moore Elementary School.

Based on maps available at the PennEast website, the proposed route now places the pipeline about 4,000 feet from Moore, 2835 Mountain View Drive (Route 946), Moore Township.

The previous proposed pipeline route was about 1,900 feet from Moore.

The proximity of the proposed pipeline to George Wolf Elementary School, 300 Allen St. (Route 512), Bath, apparently remains at 4,900 feet.

PennEast Pipeline LLC, a consortium that includes UGI Energy Services, wants to build the $1 billion, 114-mile, 36-inch natural gas underground pipeline from Dallas, Luzerne County, to Pennington, Mercer County, N.J., traversing Carbon, Northampton and Bucks counties.

In letters sent to officials, the Northampton Area School District Board of Directors cited concerns "for the safety and well-being of our students and staff" because of the proximity of the proposed Penn-East pipeline to Moore Elementary School and George Wolf Elementary School.

The NASD board sent letters Feb. 24 to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), State Sen. Mario Scavello (R-40th), State Rep. Marcia Hahn (R-138th), State Rep. Julie Harhart (R-183rd), U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent (R-15th) and U.S. Senators Bob Casey Jr. and Pat Toomey.

As of the March 23 NASD school board meeting, when the letters were made public, a letter dated March 5 from Toomey was received March 10.

According to Penn-East's website, the Current Preferred Alternative replaced Prior Alternative 6 and was filed March 30 with FERC.

States the PennEast website: "Following feedback from the scoping meetings and numerous conversations with landowners, state and local agencies, and other stakeholders, PennEast revised and refined portions of the preferred alternative route."

NASD school board members and administrators previously discussed the pipeline project at the Feb. 11 and Nov. 19, 2014, board meetings.

The underground pipeline would transport 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day from the Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale region to provide energy for an estimated 4.7 million homes.

Construction of the pipeline across Moore, Upper Nazareth, Lower Nazareth, Bethlehem, Williams and Lower Saucon townships is to begin in 2017.

PennEast is expected to file a formal application with FERC this summer. Public comment to FERC is being taken until July. PennEast filed a preliminary application with FERC in October 2014.

Maps of the pipeline route and more information on the project are available at the Penn-East website, penneastpipeline.com.