Natural Gas Co. Wants To Expand In Essex County; DEP Hearing Set

NORTH CALDWELL, NJ — Environmental activists and community members in Essex County are gearing up for a public hearing on a controversial gas pipeline expansion project that would allegedly beef up horsepower – and potential risks – at the Williams Transco compressor station in Roseland.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) meeting in North Caldwell on Tuesday, Aug. 7 will be “the first and only public hearing on the wetlands and water quality permit for the proposed Gateway Expansion Project,” according to a statement from Food & Water Watch.

The hearing will help to decide whether Texas-based Transco will get permission to move ahead with a proposed compressor station expansion in Roseland. It’s slated to take place at 6 p.m. at the West Essex Regional High School, 65 W. Greenbrook Rd., North Caldwell.

• See related article: Activists Demand Hearing On Essex County Pipeline Station

“If approved, this FERC pipeline project would create a massive new fracked-gas compressor station immediately next to an existing compressor in Roseland, New Jersey, and would increase the amount and pressure of fracked-gas through a 60+ year old pipeline in Roseland and 15 other Essex County communities,” Matthew Smith, an organizer with Food & Water Watch said.

Smith added:

“The company behind the project, Williams Transco, is a major fossil fuel corporation with a long history of environmental violations and deadly explosions. Williams Transco currently has several new fracked-gas pipeline and related infrastructure expansion projects proposed all throughout New Jersey and the region. This public hearing is an opportunity to unite all our individual fights against Williams Transco, and send a clear message to NJDEP and Governor Murphy: No more pipelines through our communities and water sources! Our health and safety must be prioritized over fossil fuel industry profits!”

The existing Williams Transco pipeline compressor station in Roseland has incited years of criticism and protest from activists, who allege that the energy giant is now trying to construct a new, 27,500 horsepower gas compressor facility at the site, doubling the station's capacity… and "inherent dangers."

Activists' outcry for transparency has caused some local government bodies, such as the Roseland Borough Council and Livingston Town Council to call for the NJDEP to hold a public hearing on the expansion before issuing the company a Freshwater Wetlands Permit for the project.

• See related article: Proposed Pipeline Station Blasted By Essex County Official

However, Chris Stockton, a media relations spokesperson for Williams, previously told Patch that some of the activists’ claims about the Roseland expansion are "being twisted to make the impact seem greater," including the allegation that the company wants to build a second compressor station.

"In reality, the proposed project simply adds horsepower to the existing facility," Stockton said. "Increasing the horsepower does not create additional risk and does not decrease the effectiveness of the existing safety systems."

"We currently operate five compressor facilities in New Jersey," Stockton added. "We have been operating them safely without any serious incidents for decades."

• See related article: Pipeline Company Says No Plans For 2nd Compressor In Essex County

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File Photo: Roseland Against Compressor Station

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