PennEast Pipeline to be Delayed: Public Opposition Working

For Immediate Release

December 1, 2015

Contact Jeff Tittel 609-558-9100

NJResources, parent company of New Jersey Natural Gas and a partner in the PennEast pipeline, has changed their forecast for PennEast Pipeline. They originally projected the pipeline to be approved in 2017 and working by 2018. Now the uncertainly has changed their projects. This change is because of the large opposition to the project by municipalities and landowners along the route has made it difficult for PennEast to get the information they need to apply for permits, thereby delaying the project.

“Our united opposition is working: this delay on the PennEast pipeline is a small victory for the environment. Any time you can delay a pipeline, it gives us a better chance to stop it. Now we must keep fighting and working hard to stop the project. 1,500 people have registered as intervenors against PennEast pipeline. In New Jersey, more than 70% of the people on the route have said NO to this pipeline and won't let PennEast on their land to complete the surveys they need. Since they don’t have enough data on both its impacts to the environment and safety concerns to do a proper analysis, they have not been able to obtain the permits they needed to reach their original timeline,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “They originally said they would have approval in 2016. Then it was 2017. Now it’s later. Who knows, maybe they will never get approval? This pipeline is unneeded and unnecessary and the more it gets delayed it will show that this pipeline should never be built.”

The PennEast pipeline would cause a scar in environmentally sensitive land and have major impacts to water quality and damage to the environment. Pipelines coming through the Delaware River region also pose threat to drinking water. More natural gas lines create a higher demand for fracking and dirty infrastructure. These pipelines are bringing natural gas from the Marcellus Region of Pennsylvania throughout New Jersey. The public has shown a clear opposition to this pipeline and its support of natural gas by not allowing PennEast to survey on their land, denying them the information they need for permits.

“We know that our opposition is working because PennEast has moved their timetable due to lack of survey information for permits. Despite their application to FERC, PennEast Pipeline does not even have enough information for necessary permits required from NJDEP. We don’t believe that this project, given all its problems and failure to do proper surveys, can do a proper EIS. This pipeline cannot meet the requirement for a 401 water quality permit. The reason is because of the amount of high quality streams, wetlands, and rivers it is crossing through. FERC should not approve this project until they have the necessary permits required by the NJDEP,” said Jeff Tittel.

This delay also means a delay in New Jersey Natural Gas (NGNG)’s proposed Southern Reliability Link (SRL) pipeline and Garden State Expansion. The projects are interconnected because the SRL pipeline would be transporting gas from PennEast. NJNG is a 20% partner in PennEast and is getting their 180,000 dekatherms of natural gas from them. PennEast is putting that gas into a Transco substation in Ewing which is part of the Garden State Expansion. That same amount of gas will then go to compressor station in Chesterfield and into the Southern Reliability Link pipeline. The compressor station, Southern Reliability Link, and PennEast Pipeline would work together as one system which means that a delay in PennEast is also a delay for the SRL.

“This delay is also good news for opponents of the NJNG Southern Reliability Link pipeline. Despite claims from the company, the Southern Reliability Link would bring five times as much natural gas into Ocean County than necessary for resiliency. The purpose of this pipeline is for growth in the coastal region, not for reliability along the route. It would do so by transporting gas from PennEast. Without PennEast being in place, NJNG will not be able to move forward with the Southern Reliability Link,” said Jeff Tittel.

The fight against the PennEast isn’t just about stopping a pipeline; it’s about preserving communities and natural resources and about paving the way to a sustainable future. This delay in the project shows that we can make a difference in our battle against this pipeline by sticking together.

“The fact that PennEast has changed their timeline for this pipeline shows that our opposition is working to slow it down. Thousands of residents are standing up against PennEast because it will do irreparable harm to their communities. The PennEast pipeline will do more than just threaten open space and farmland. It will cut an ugly scar through environmentally sensitive lands, cross the Delaware River, 88 waterways, 44 wetlands, numerous tributaries, forests, and impact wildlife. Even worse, this pipeline will promote fracking; cause water and air pollution, and contribute to climate change. PennEast Pipeline is also a safety hazard to the homes and communities it passes,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “If we continue fighting hard and working together, we can stop PennEast pipeline!”