Politics & Government
Public Hearing On Controversial Pinelands Pipeline Project Moved To Burlington County
The hearing was set for Manahawkin, but was moved to due to the large number of people expected, according to the Burlington County Times.
A planned public hearing on South Jersey Gas’s controversial plan to run a natural gas pipeline through a portion of the protected Pinelands has been moved from Manahawkin, Ocean County, to Pemberton, Burlington County, the Burlington County Times reports.
The New Jersey Pinelands Commission meeting is set for Tuesday, Jan. 24, 9:30 a.m. at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 22 Trenton Road in the Browns Mills section of Pemberton.
The move was made to accommodate the large number of people expected to show up for the meeting, which will include a public comment portion, according to the report.
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The proposal calls for 22 miles of 24-inch pipeline to run through portions of Cumberland, Atlantic and Cape May counties. This includes 10 miles within the Pinelands itself.
The pipeline would fuel the B.L. England Power Plant.
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Opponents say the pipeline will cause long-term harm to the forest and its waterways, including loss of habitat for the indigenous species and more runoff and erosion, among other environmental dangers.
The plan was approved by the Board of Public Utilities in 2015. However, in November, an appellate court ruled that the 15-member Pinelands Commission must approve the project before it can move forward.
The commission is currently accepting comments from the public, through Jan. 24.
Comments can be sent by email to info@njpines.state.nj.us or mailed to the New Jersey Pinelands Commission, P.O. Box 359, New Lisbon, N.J. 08064.
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