Sierra Club Lauds Freeholders for Stance on Pilgrim Pipeline

Saying the resolution brings increased momentum and marks a rebuttal against Governor Chris Christie, the Sierra Club of New Jersey applauded the Morris County Board of Freeholders for its stance against the proposed Pilgrim Pipeline project.

The county’s governing body unanimously approved a resolution on March 25 opposing the project that would bring Bakken crude oil from upstate New York into Linden, New Jersey. Morris is third county in the state, and joins a total of 34 New Jersey towns to oppose the plan.

“The momentum against The Pilgrim Pipeline keeps building with Morris County just passing a resolution against this harmful pipeline,” said Sierra Club Director Jeff Tittel. “We applaud Morris County for standing up for the environment and clean water. The timing of resolution was a rebuttal to the Governor who on Monday gave some support for this Pipeline. Governor Christie seems more concerned with the concerns of Big Oil than people, towns or the Freeholders of his home County. The Governor at one time served as Morris County Freeholder making the county’s resolution even more important.”

Tittel went on to say that 10,000 gallons of spilled fuel could pollute more than 40 billion gallons of water.
“There would also be a tremendous impact to groundwater impacting dozens towns drinking water in Highlands and Buried Valley acquirers. No matter how new a pipeline is, all pipelines are prone to human error, accidents, and spills. We need to reject the various pipelines around New Jersey to protect our environment, communities, and water supply,” Tittel said.