Rally Against Head of FERC to Stop Rubberstamping Pipelines

For Immediate Release

October 28, 2016

Contact: Jeff Tittel, Director, NJ Sierra Club, (609) 558-9100

Rally Against Head of FERC to Stop Rubberstamping Pipelines

The Sierra Club held a protest today against Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) at the NJ Energy Coalition meeting in West Trenton. One of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)'s Commissioners, Cheryl A. LaFleur planned to speak at the meeting and we were there to rally against FERC’s rubberstamp of damaging and dangerous pipelines in our region. The NJ Energy Coalition who is a pro-fracking and pro-pipeline organization trying to proliferate dirty energy in our communities. Community members and residents against pipelines participated because it was their chance to tell FERC to stop the pipelines.

“We are here united to tell FERC Commissioner LaFleur that she works for the people not the gas companies. We need her to do her job to protect the environment and the people of United States against these dangerous and unnecessary pipelines. Time and time again FERC has taken people’s property for pipelines, while failing to provide a thorough review of the harm it does to surrounding communities. That is because FERC is a rogue agency that is more concerned with promoting pipelines than regulating them,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “FERC have continued to approve pipelines without looking at environmental impacts and safety. They must consider the cumulative and secondary impacts of all of these separate proposals, which is already required by law. We are rallying outside the NJ Energy Coalition meeting to tell LaFleur to make sure PennEast Pipeline and other pipeline proposals get the FERC out of our valley!”

The PennEast Pipeline would have detrimental effects on the Delaware Valley. The proposed 110-mile PennEast pipeline would cut through the Delaware River Valley beginning in Dallas Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. It would cross the Delaware River and 254 other major waterways, into to Hopewell Township and connect to an existing pipeline in Pennington, New Jersey. The pipeline would threaten the entire Valley including 91 acres of wetlands and over 44 miles of forest; over 1,600 acres total. This is a serious project that will affect many people on both sides of the river.

“New Jersey and the Delaware River Valley is being overrun with pipelines. FERC isn’t looking out for the people, they are clearly looking at what is best for the gas companies. New Jersey is being turned from the crossroads of the Revolution to the crossroads of pipelines. There are over 15 proposals for pipelines from Transco to Spectra to PennEast that will cut an ugly scar through our communities and environmentally sensitive areas. We need to protest FERC because pipelines like PennEast will put the Delaware River at risk as well as the drinking water for millions of people,” said Jeff Tittel. “FERC have the power to deny the PennEast Pipeline and reject its flawed draft Environmental Impact Statement so we need to continue the public outcry. We must come together to protect our communities and stand up to FERC. We are telling FERC that they must deny the PennEast Pipeline and other pipelines, protect our water and our communities!”

FERC had previously approved the Leidy Southeast Expansion project will install over 12 miles of 42-inch pipeline in New Jersey. The Skillman Loop would run 6.36 miles through Princeton and Montgomery Townships. Currently FERC is reviewing Transco’s newest pipelineproposal that includes a compressor station to be built in Trap Rock Quarry. Their proposed Northeast Supply Enhancement project also includes a new 26-ince pipeline, called the Madison Loop. The proposal includes 3.5 new miles of pipe in Old Bridge and Sayreville and 22 miles under the Raritan Bay. The pipeline would attach to a new compressor station built in the Trap Rock Quarry. The project is meant to supply National Grid customers in New York and the people of New Jersey will not see any gas from it.

“FERC is not only a cheerleader for the industry they are supposed to regulate; they are in bed with the gas industry. Even worse, pipelines will promote fracking; cause water and air pollution, and contribute to climate change. Pipelines are also a safety hazard to the homes and communities they pass. Natural gas pipelines explode all too often,” said Jeff Tittel. “Just ask the people of Bellingham Washington, Burlingame, California and Edison, NJ. This pipeline not only threatens our environment, but is a safety hazard to the neighborhoods it passes through.”

We are additionally concerned that the revolving door between employment with the regulatory agency and the industry contributes to this bias and to the lack of oversight and enforcement for pipeline projects approved by FERC. They have a proven track record of approving close to 100 percent of the projects come before them since its establishment in 1977.

“We are here to tell FERC Commissioner LaFleur enough is enough. PennEast and the various pipeline proposals need to get the FERC out of New Jersey and the Delaware River Valley. We won the court case FERC vs. DRN and Sierra Club that requires FERC to look at cumulative impacts of pipelines and follow NEPA. Even though we won the case, FERC is still not following NEPA or looking at the environmental impacts of pipelines nor the cumulative impacts of all these separate proposals,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “FERC needs to get rid of the rubberstamp and start working for the people they are supposed to represent. We need to end all pipelines proposed through our state. Pipelines damage our environment, put communities at risk, and exacerbate climate change.”

The event took place at the driveway of the Trenton Country Club, 201 Sullivan Way, West Trenton, NJ 08628.