For Immediate Release
Contact: Jeff Tittel, NJ Sierra Club, 609-558-9100
[May 15, 2020] The New York Department of Environmental Conservation denied the Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) project, whose plans included about 23 miles (37 km) of submarine pipeline off New York City’s coast. The department cited concerns over water quality and aquatic life. Transco is still missing many important NJ DEP permits they need to build their dangerous and damaging project. Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club released the following statement:
“Governor Cuomo did the right thing to protect our environment and health by rejecting NESE. This is a big win for the environment for now, but it will be an even bigger win if Governor Murphy rejects these permits. The project would cut through the already polluted and sensitive Raritan Bay and the New York Bay. An explosion or leak from their proposed compressor station could threaten communities and destroy important habitat ¬¬while adding even more pollution. Even though New York denied the fossil fuel project, Transco can still come back. That is why it is imperative for Murphy to reject the project altogether.
“Governor Cuomo denied the 401 Water Quality Certificate, which is a big victory. Governor Murphy should do the same. NESE could come back and sue, but when Governor Cuomo denied the 401 Water Quality Certificate for the Constitution Pipeline it was upheld in federal court. New Jersey should take into consideration that New York does not want the pipeline because it would impact water quality and aquatic life. The pipeline could carry and release contaminated stormwater and sediment into the environment and both bodies of water and disturb contaminated sites. This project will mean more gas and more pressure, increasing the chances of an accident.
“Transco will destroy critical wetlands for their compressor station and pipeline, which will be a disaster waiting to happen. New York doesn’t want the pipeline, and neither should New Jersey. It’s clear that this project would be bad for the environment and the DEP must do their job and reject it from being built. There is no reason for the NJ DEP to approve these permits when they’ve already spoken out against the applications being incomplete. The NESE project is unneeded and unnecessary. It will pollute waterways and doesn’t meet the 401 Water Quality Certificate. If Governor Murphy really cares about our environment and our public health, then he should follow New York’s lead and reject NESE.”