On Wednesday the NJ Board of Public Utilities (BPU) again summarily approved the South Jersey Gas pipeline project to
construct a 24" natural gas pipeline through parts of Cumberland, Cape
May and Atlantic Counties. It is the same route and project that the
Pinelands Commission failed to approve in January 2014, because it
violates the rules that protect the Pinelands.
What Happened?
For
the second time in two years the BPU approved the SJ Gas pipeline
project stating that it had already approved the project in 2013 -
before the public even knew the project existed and certainly before
there was opposition to the project.
They
claimed to only be accepting a small change in the location of the
interconnection station in Tuckahoe as well as a meaningless change made
by SJ Gas in which they state that SJ Gas will not allow anyone else to
hook into this gas pipeline (in order to prevent additional development
in the Forest Area of the Pinelands). Unless, of course they are
ordered to do so by any government agency - including the BPU.
It
is disappointing that BPU engaged in no discussion or debate. They did
nothing to address the concerns raised during the public hearing they
held in Upper Township in June 2015.
SJ
Gas still faces its biggest hurdle - winning a legally sustainable
approval from the Pinelands Commission as it tries for a second bite at
the apple.
There are many reasons why SJ Gas should fail at the Commission - not
the least being that the Commission's Executive Director has already
issued a formal finding that the pipeline route violates the
Comprehensive Management Plan's rules for the Forest Area.
Now that SJ Gas has given up claiming a special
exemption, it would require the Executive Director to do a 180 degree
reversal of position for the Commission to approve the pipeline.
What Can I Do?
Contact the NJ Pinelands Commission at 609-894-7300.
1.
Tell them that you expect the Commission to deny the SJ Gas Pipeline
project because the Commission's Executive Director, Nancy Wittenberg,
already
issued a formal finding in 2013 that the pipeline route violates the
Comprehensive Management Plan's rules for Pinelands Forest Areas.
2. Tell them that you expect a clearly defined process for public participation and hearings.
Your help is critical to stopping the SJ Gas pipeline again!
Spread the word.
Share this email with your friends and we will keep
you up to date on the latest news. We also post updates and actions on
our Facebook page
www.facebook.com/pinelands.
You can review the Compliance Statement for South Jersey Gas's revised application to the Pinelands Commission o
n our website as well as their analysis of alternative routes. You can also find their application information on the
Pinelands Commission's website here.
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2 comments:
What do you suppose the vote will be this time now that Christie removed people who voted NO and replaced them with his pocket people? Christie's good buddy, Samson, who resigned from the Port Authority, is deeply involved in the BL England Plant. Christie has proven contempt for any taxpayer opinions and NJ tax money seems to be a personal treasure chest for his travel expenses, food, security, cronies and donators while our pension funds, social programs, road Dept., etc go broke. I really hope he's indicted on the numerous charges that are being investigated against him right now. He belongs in jail, not the White House.
This should have been approved and built 5 years ago. The local economy needs our elected leaders to assist job growth and local businesses.
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