Gov. Murphy, Tell Transco to get the FERC out of NJ!

Today, the New Jersey Sierra Club joins a coalition of groups at a press conference asking the Murphy Administration to reject crucial permits for William’s Northeast Supply Enhancement Compressor Station and its Transco pipeline expansion that would go into the Raritan Bay. The Sierra Club has generated over 800 signatures from members asking DEP to reject the project. DEP will decide whether or not to grant Flood Hazard Area, Coastal Wetland, and Waterfront Development permits for the project. Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club released the following statement:

“We are here because the facts are on our side and the people are on our side. Governor Murphy and the DEP need to look at the facts and need to listen to the public. They need to say no to NESE by rejecting all of their permits, including the 401 Water Quality Certificate. If the governor cares about reducing greenhouse gases, moving to 100% renewable energy, and protecting our waterways and bays, then he must have DEP deny these permits. If he wants to protect us from pipelines blowing up, he must deny the permits.

“This project will not meet Surface Water Quality Standards, and the permits must be denied. The NESE pipeline will cut across contaminated sites in Middlesex and Monmouth counties on its way into Raritan Bay. Construction will disrupt 1 million cubic yards of contaminated sediment, releasing buried toxins including arsenic, lead and PCBs. Arsenic causes a variety of cancers in humans. Lead causes neurologic impairment, especially in children. More than 90% of human exposure to dangerous PCBs is through food, including fish and shellfish.

“Governor Murphy must protect our lungs and our safety! Transco’s compressor station will release greenhouse gases such as methane, ethane and MTBEs. Industrial runoff from the station that includes metals such as chromium, volatile organic chemicals and oil will worsen pollution. An explosion or leak could threaten communities and destroy important habitat ­­while adding even more pollution. This project will mean more gas and more pressure, increasing the chances of an accident. Vital wetlands will also be destroyed that will also increase pollution and flooding.

“Transco’s application has failed to examine the additional threats and effects from worsening climate change, rising sea levels, and increased storm events. Additionally, it does not properly measure or evaluate secondary or cumulative impacts from connected and surrounding infrastructure including the connected pipeline that would cross the Raritan Bay or potential leaks or explosions. It is critical that the DEP consider the impacts the NESE project will have and reject their permits altogether.

“Some have said we should leave this decision to DEP. You cannot fight this permit by permit. We can’t leave this to DEP alone, the Department of Excessive Pipelines. DEP has already approved three pipeline projects under Gov. Murphy — Lambertville East, Rivervale South and the Roseland Compressor station. DEP cannot be trusted. They have never turned down a pipeline permit on substantive issues and environmental grounds in recent history. This should be their first denial. This is where they need to change what they’re doing. DEP tells us their hands are tied, but they have the authority to stop this project. That’s why the governor needs to tell them their hands aren’t tied, make them do their job and say no to Transco.

“Governor Cuomo did the right thing to protect our environment and health by rejecting NESE. Now Governor Murphy and the DEP must do the same. It is even more important that they deny all of NESE’s permits because they have already reapplied in New York. If Governor Murphy cares about protecting the bay and environment, then he must reject the NESE project. He cannot permit disaster to strike.  Gov. Murphy says that he doesn’t call balls and strikes on pipelines and power plants. He needs to do his job and tell Transco, strike 3, you’re out of the game, get the FERC out of New Jersey!”