Manchester Officials Cautiously Monitoring Natural Gas Pipeline Proposal

While opposition continues to grow from municipalities and citizens groups to a New Jersey Natural Gas proposal to build a 28-mile natural gas transmission line, Manchester Township officials say they are not opposing the project -- for now, at least.

New Jersey Natural Gas has petitioned the N.J. Board of Public Utilities to allow it to build the Southern Reliability Link pipeline -- a 30-inch in diameter transmission line that would provide a backup for natural gas service to Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties. It would begin in Chesterfield Township and link to existing natural gas pipelines in Manchester, according to the proposal.

Numerous organizations have expressed opposition, including the Sierra Club, the Pinelands Preservation Alliance, and several municipalities in Mercer, Burlington and Ocean counties, including Plumsted, Manchester’s neighbor to the west. More than 200 people from various towns jammed the courtroom at the Manchester Township municipal building on July 27 for a hearing on the project, most there in opposition to it, citing safety and environmental concerns.

In a news release issued this week, Manchester Mayor Kenneth T. Palmer said he and the Township Council have decided not to oppose the project for the time being.

Under the project, about two miles of new pipe would be installed in Manchester in the Route 70 utility easements and Route 547. The 30-inch diameter is necessary because the Southern Reliability Link is a tranmission line, not one designed to supply residences but instead to supply the NJNG existing pipeline, Palmer said.

“Obviously, safety is the No. 1 one concern,” Palmer said in the news release explaining the issue and the reason town officials are not joining the opposition right now.

“Unlike the towns in Burlington County that are not currently serviced with natural gas and do not have an existing natural gas infrastructure, Manchester does,” Palmer wrote. “In fact, when shown a map of the existing natural gas pipes in Manchester, I was surprised by the amount.” Those residential lines are all 12 to 20 inches in diameter, he said.

“As such, we are not introducing a new risk to the town,” he said. “The location of the SRL pipes in Manchester are over 300 feet away from Shop Rite, Leisure Village West, Manchester Township Elementary School and Manchester First Aid.”

The pipeline will be constructed with emergency shut-off valves at small intervals, he said.

Township officials also are keeping an eye on NJ Natural Gas’s plans with regard to paying for the $130 million project.

“NJNG contends they are footing the bill,“ Palmer said. “However, they are reserving the right to petition the BPU for an increase in prices down the road.”

NJ Natural Gas submitted the proposal to the state Board of Public Utilities in April, and Palmer said the process is for the BPU to hold public meetings -- two have been held so far and at least three others are scheduled, Palmer said.

“In order to be approved, NJNG has to prove that the SRL is reasonably necessary for the service, convenience and welfare of the public. Once the BPU makes their decision, the parties can appeal to the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court,” Palmer said.

He also said the NJ Natural Gas petition is still in the “discovery” stage, where the utility company is required to provide information such as route plans, environmental studies, rate studies, and other details to any groups impacted by the proposal.

“Those parties are still in the discovery stage,” he said.

Palmer said the next public hearing is scheduled for Dec. 1 at the BPU’s offices at 44 South Clinton Ave., Trenton, and township officials will continue to monitor the proposal and its progress.