BREWER – Federal officials came to Brewer on Monday night hoping to hear how an expanded natural gas pipeline in Maine could affect the environment.

What the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission representatives primarily heard, however, was how much of a boost the construction project would provide local contractors and the economy.

Officials with FERC held the first of three environmental scoping sessions Monday night to hear comments on a proposal to expand roughly 146 miles of a natural gas pipeline that runs from Massachusetts to the Canadian border near Calais.

The plans also call for construction of five compression stations in Brewer, Eliot, Westbrook, Searsmont and Woodchopping Ridge. Most of the expanded pipeline would be adjacent to the existing line.

The company proposing the project, Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, said expansion is needed to meet increasing demand for natural gas in Canada and the northeastern U.S. as well as to improve reliability and efficiency.

The company, which is owned by energy giants Duke Energy Corp., ExxonMobil Corp. and Emera Inc., has pre-filed an application with FERC and plans to file a formal application later this winter.

Eight of the 11 people who spoke Monday talked up the beneficial impact the construction project would have on local contractors, builders, hotels, restaurants and even apartment complexes that will house the temporary workers.

“Primarily, it means good jobs for lots of Maine people,” said John Hanson of Bangor, who was representing the Maine State Building and Construction Trades Council.

Several homeowners who dealt with Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline during the last construction project were not as pleased with the prospect of another go-round with the company.

Kelley Woodward of Bucksport said workers used her property as a bathroom for weeks because the company did not provide portable toilets, were caught drinking alcohol on the job, and routinely strayed from their prescribed areas.

Woodward said the construction noise and disruption was significant.

“So while all of these businesses benefit from this, you’re not the landowners that have to live beside it,” Woodward said.

Linda Haagen from Orrington also lamented the noise and “chaos” last time. Haagen said she was told it was not fiscally possible to let local users tap into the gas pipeline, prompting her to ask: “How are we standing to benefit in any way from what we see as a nightmare?”

Jim Mitchell, who handles government and public relations for Maritimes, said afterward that nearly one-half of the natural gas carried by the pipeline has historically been used in Maine, with much of that going to such major users as pulp and paper manufacturers or power plants. Because natural gas burns cleaner than other fossil fuels, that has helped reduce air pollution, he said.

Mitchell said that while some isolated incidents occur, the company does its best to address landowner concerns quickly.

Gus McLachlan, environmental manager for Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, said afterward that the company had contacted several area businesses and contractors about Monday’s meeting.

FERC officials will take the comments into account when drafting the environmental impact statement for the project. The agency also will hold multiple public hearings on the proposal after the company files its formal application.