Letter to the Editor from North Jersey Resident Urges Ramsey to Oppose Pilgrim Pipeline

November 4, 2014

Dear Editor:

Do you know where your drinking water comes from? If you live in Mahwah, Ramsey, Allendale, Franklin Lakes, Oakland, Pompton Lakes, or Wayne, it comes from the Ramapo River Watershed. In 1990 Mahwah had the vision to request that the EPA designate it as a Sole Source Aquifer, meaning that this is Mahwah’s ONLY source of water and it should be protected.

Right now Pilgrim Pipeline is trying to build two pipelines through that watershed, one line running from Albany to Linden, NJ carrying volatile Bakken crude oil that has been obtained from fracking in North Dakota, and the second carrying refined product back to Albany. The refined material will not be used in NJ and our towns will get no financial or other benefits, just the risk of a leak polluting our water. Pilgrim erroneously claims that the pipeline will be safer than transporting the oil by barge. While accidents occur less often on pipelines, the spills are far more significant. Industry reports prove that pipelines spill more oil than all other forms of transport combined.

Oakland, Parsippany, Montville, Watchung and Madison have passed resolutions to oppose the Pilgrim Pipeline. Mahwah’s Town Council will vote on such a resolution on November 13. Every town that could be affected by this project – and Ramsey’s water is at risk here – should urge their Council to take action now before the project gets the green light from Trenton.

Sincerely,

Anne C. Powley

Mahwah