Date : Tue, 8 Nov 2016 12:12:13 -0500
PennEast Public Comment Reopened on DEIS: Small Victory
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has opened a 30-day comment period for PennEast’s changed route for their pipeline. PennEast submitted 33 minor alternatives (or “deviations”) to the proposed route on the docket to look like they are complying to landowner objections with the pipeline, but really they are still pushing through a damaging project that will severely impact other areas. This pipeline would have detrimental effects on the Delaware Valley. The proposed 110-mile PennEast pipeline wou
“FERC has reopened the docket is because of the public outpouring after PennEast changed the route. When PennEast changed the route, they ambushed many people who suddenly found out they have a pipeline planned to go through their property, even their lawns and driveways. It was shameful for PennEast to do this without giving those people a right to comment. Now they have a chance to get their voices on the record. The public demanded a right to speak on this change and their outcry has forced FERC to reopen the DEIS docket for comment,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “Any time we slow down a project it’s a small victory because it gives us a change to organize more. The more people we get involved to speak out against it gives us a better chance of stopping it.This is a small victory for us since any time we can delay a project we have a better chance of stopping it. With this new comment period, the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) won’t be available on the previous deadline of December 16. We will continue to fight against the PennEast Pipeline because all they are doing by changing parts of the proposed route is rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. This project is still a disaster because of the overall damage it will do to the environment and public safety.”
The pipeline would threaten the entire Valley including 91 acres of wetlands and over 44 miles of forest; over 1,600 acres’ total. This is a serious project that will affect many people on both sides of the river. PennEast Pipeline also does not even have enough information for necessary permits required from NJDEP. The PennEast Pipeline violates the Clean Water Act and cannot meet the criteria for 404 permits. Also, we believe that 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. Many of these streams carry anti-degradation criteria. The route will cut areas with steep slopes having a bigger impact on streams because of siltation and runoff.
“PennEast Pipeline is only making changes to the route to get around state DEP and federal environmental regulations. They made these changes after the close of public comment without the ability for anyone to review or comment on these changes. That clearly violated NEPA. What they are actually doing is playing games with the regulatory process to avoid some endangered species and wetlands areas to help get the pipeline approved. Even with making this minimal changes, this project will still will be an environmental nightmare. They know that the FERC DEIS is fatally flawed and they cannot meet the regulatory requirements for water quality permits. That is the only reason they are changing the route so they can make it easier to get permits, not protect landowners,” said Jeff Tittel. “Despite the missing information in the FERC DEIS, the document makes it clear that the pipeline will destroy the Delaware Valley and change the landscape forever.”
The New Jersey Sierra Club has previously submitted comments to FERC asking them to deny the DEIS because it is incomplete. There are 79 instances of missing information in the document and people were not awarded the proper amount of time to analysis and comment on it. We believe that for all these reasons, FERC should deny the DEIS.
“They also reopened this comment period because the opposition by the EPA and questions raised by DEP showed that the DEIS was flawed. They must reopen comments so they can try to fix their glaring emissions and mistakes. PennEast doesn’t even have enough information to apply in the first place which makes this a mockery of the whole NEPA process. Over 70 percent of landowners have denied PennEast survey access and said NO to the pipeline. Without this survey access they have not gained enough data for a DEIS. Since they don’t have enough information on the pipeline’s potential impacts to the environment and safety concerns, this cannot be considered a proper analysis,” said Jeff Tittel.
FERC’s hearing testimony process for this DEIS was completely new from what people were used to and in our opinion, ineffective. First, they only gave people 52 days to review the document. They held six public hearings but only two of them in New Jersey. The hearing process itself was changed from the typical format when people can get up in front of an audience and speak. Instead, commenters were called in one at a time to privately record their testimony with a stenographer.
“Now that FERC has re-opened the comment period on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, we can even better examine the changed route and voice our opposition to it. The DEIS, even with the tons of holes, makes it clear that this pipeline would be a catastrophe for the environment of the Delaware Valley. With these new changes, the public deserves the right to analyze PennEast’s new impact to environmentally sensitive areas and their communities,” said Jeff Tittel. “The PennEast pipeline will not only our waterways but forests, open space, and farmland. Even worse, pipelines like PennEast will promote fracking; cause water and air pollution, and contribute to climate change. PennEast is part of a system that includes the Garden State Expansion project and Southern Reliability Link pipeline. Pipelines are also a safety hazard to the homes and communities they pass. Natural gas pipelines explode all too often."
The PennEast Pipeline would threaten the Delaware Valley’s environment and communities. PennEast has not been able to prove they can get the necessary permits for construction and operation and their DEIS is incomplete. The pipeline would damage important waterways, including the Delaware River. The people of the region have not been given the proper amount of time and opportunity to speak out against this project that threatens their homes, safety, and environment. For all of these reasons, the DEIS should be rejected.
“It is a good thing that FERC has opened a comment period on PennEast’s route changes since it not only delays their Final EIS, but allows us to get more information on the record. This will give us more momentum to stop this unneeded and unnecessary pipeline. PennEast moving their route is only their attempt to dance around opposition and regulations. PennEast has continued to play games to push this dangerous and destructive project through the Delaware Valley. This Draft EIS was a joke to begin with, PennEast snuck in changes after the comment period closed, and now they are changing the route. FERC cannot let this unacceptable behavior stand,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “This decision opens the door to let us get hundreds, if not thousands, of more comments against this dangerous and damaging pipeline. We can now get more technical reports and experts on the records on why this pipeline violates NEPA and other environmental laws and needs to be rejected."
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Jamie Zaccaria Administrative Assistant New Jersey Sierra Club office: (609) 656-7612 https://www.facebook.com/
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Received on 2016-11-08 09:12:13