Sierra Club

Governor Cuomo Denies NESE- Murphy Should Too

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation denied the Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) project, whose plans included about 23 miles (37 km) of submarine pipeline off New York City’s coast. The department cited concerns over water quality and aquatic life. Transco is still missing many important NJ DEP permits they need to build their dangerous and damaging project.

“Governor Cuomo did the right thing to protect our environment and health by rejecting NESE. This is a big win for the environment for now, but it will be an even bigger win if Governor Murphy rejects these permits. Even though New York denied the fossil fuel project, Transco can still come back. That is why it is imperative for Murphy to reject the project altogether. The project would cut through the already polluted and sensitive Raritan Bay and the New York Bay. An explosion or leak from their proposed compressor station could threaten communities and destroy important habitat ­­while adding even more pollution,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “Murphy must deny the NESE project if he wants to keep his word on achieving his 100% renewable goals for this state.”

Last week, Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC submitted its acceptance of the Certificate of public convenience and necessity issued for the Northeast Supply Enhancement Project under CP17-101. A pipeline with a commission-issued certificate has the right to exercise eminent domain to acquire the land necessary to construct and operate its proposed new pipeline when it cannot reach a voluntary agreement with the landowner.

“Governor Cuomo dismissed the project without prejudice. However, NESE could come back with new permits and can sue New York. This makes it even more imperative for New Jersey to reject NESE’s permits. Otherwise the victory in New York may not last. New York did not consider climate impacts when denying the projects permits, they denied it because of the impact it will have to water quality and aquatic life. New Jersey needs to deny NESE project those terms and also deny the project because of its climate impacts,” said Tittel.

DEP will decide whether or not to grant Flood Hazard Area, Coastal Wetland, and Waterfront Development permits for the NESE project. The NESE pipeline project’s path would cut across numerous contaminated sites as well as 2 Superfund sites, the Raritan Bay Slag and Higgins Farm sites, into the Raritan Bay. Construction of the pipeline will disrupt contaminated sediment, releasing buried toxins such as arsenic, lead and PCBs. Those toxins will impact human health and marine life.

“New Jersey should take into consideration that New York does not want the pipeline because it would impact water quality and aquatic life. The pipeline could carry and release contaminated stormwater and sediment into the environment and both bodies of water and disturb contaminated sites. This project will mean more gas and more pressure, increasing the chances of an accident,” said Tittel. “Transco will destroy critical wetlands for their compressor station and pipeline, which will be a disaster waiting to happen. DEP must do their job to protect our environment and health by turning down the NESE project.”

There has been major opposition from towns in Monmouth and Middlesex County on the NESE project. A coalition of groups, including the NJ Sierra Club have also been able to generate over 10,000 signatures asking DEP to deny Transco’s pipeline and compressor station.

“New York doesn’t want the pipeline, and neither should New Jersey. It’s clear that this project would be bad for the environment and the DEP must do their job and reject it from being built. There is no reason for the NJ DEP to approve these permits when they’ve already spoken out against the applications being incomplete. The NESE project is unneeded and unnecessary. It will pollute waterways and doesn’t meet the 401 Water Quality Certificate,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “If Governor Murphy really cares about our environment and our public health, then he should follow New York’s lead and reject NESE.”