JCP&L Threatens Community & Environment Is There a Real Need?

Quote: from Parsippany’s Master Plan. “To protect and preserve the environmentally sensitive areas of the Troy Meadows”

In these sensitive areas we have rare and endangered species, Blue Spotted Salamander, Spotted Turtle, Wood Turtle, Barred Owl, Blue Heron, Bobcat, Bald Eagle, and others less rare, Parsippany’s last remaining genuine habitat of the Great Ecology of Life that once flourished here. Troy Meadows sprawling 3,100-acre reserve is the largest freshwater marsh in New Jersey and was designated as a National Natural Landmark in 1967. It’s also classified as a “Priority Wetland” by the Environmental Protection Agency .The Whippany River runs through the swamp and connects with the Rockaway River.

So even before the Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act was passed in NJ in 1987 Wildlife Preserves and other knowledgeable people were ahead of the curve. Predating Wetland Protection stands; The New Jersey Endangered and Nongame Species Conservation Act of 1973 establishes a list of wildlife species designated by the State of New Jersey as threatened and endangered.

Both of these Legislative Acts are now being challenged or flaunted by JCP&L in their allegations of need for a Reinforcement Project, which as Parsippany Citizens say was not made clear as to its actual need or ways to abating or minimizing impacts and cumulative effects they will incur, on the community and the ecology of the Wetlands and life within.

The Edwards Road Tract is in reality a part and parcel of the greater Troy Meadows Ecosystem of Biodiversity. Troy Meadows Aspects exist ecologically and hydraulically connecting these landscapes. Impacts anywhere will incur impacts everywhere and especially in our Troy Meadows Natural National Landmark.

The impacts to this landscape cannot be defined by the size of the area, but rather by the Interacting elements” that are meaningful to the management objectives. So we must consider what “additional” cumulative impacts” combined over time will lead to significant overall degradation of this recognized resource? How can they be cost avoidant, or cost measured in mitigations? What elements of resilience can be ongoing in protecting this landscape after the intrusion?

JCP&L seems not to be centered in these concerns, but their bottom line; and of course the costs will be passed on to the customers in time. So we will be paying for a loss of our quality of life overall and have aided in the further destruction of the Planet’s natural gifts and beauty. Add the additional fact that all this will weaken a natural flood plain’s ability to avoid costly floods, of which JCP&L will also avoid responsibility. For example an interesting scientific fact; 1% loss of organic matter in 1-acre of soil results in a 20,000 gallon loss of water retention capability in the soil’s ability to work as an ecosystem service, at no costs, in water quality quantity and flood control characteristics. JCP&L right-of-way Priority Tree Rights spells disaster for the remaining forest and went land.

We must be suspect. Remnants of Christies Demised NJDEP

In our age of advanced technology and energy saving devises, much subsidized by tax dollars in defense and space exploration, we can land a rover on Mars and control its devices, yet here on Earth we continue to scar our natural world with antiquated means and ways, we must have a complete an unbiased investigation into the real need for such a project proposed. Will this project actually promote the continued use of fossil fuels or nuclear energy sources, and has JCP&L been responsible in the actual upkeep and upgrades to their existing infrastructure, not doing so has caused the frequency and duration of outages; that this so-called “reinforcement” is not required and especially in this fashion. That behind it all is a private interest in the continued speculations of sprawl development, and for profit motive of JCP&L a so-called Public Utility in title only.

Troy Meadows R US!

"A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise." – Aldo Leopold-