Home » Letter to the Editor: Deadline Looming, Preserve Your Rights Now

Letter to the Editor: Deadline Looming, Preserve Your Rights Now

by Community Contributor

The PennEast Pipeline is not a “done deal.”  Opposition is mounting, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is taking notice.  Every New Jersey municipality along the proposed route of the pipeline has passed a resolution in opposition of the project!  Scientists, citizens, elected officials, parents, businessmen, doctors, environmentalists, teachers, and farmers have all submitted comments against the pipeline on FERC’s website.  It is now more important than ever to let FERC know what you think!

PennEast has decided to take the next step in their very long filing process, so it’s time for us to take the next step, too.   We all need to declare as “intervenors.”  Declaring as an intervenor preserves vital rights – rights that we will lose if we fail to declare ourselves before October 29th.

As an intervenor you reserve your right to challenge a FERC decision – you can ask for a rehearing and also be party to court challenges to FERC on a project.  FERC also has to acknowledge and address your comments and issues in its decision. You do not need to be an affected landowner to file.  In fact, anyone who has concerns about pipeline safety, health issues, environmental concerns, etc., is encouraged to file and share concerns.

FERC’s website can be tricky to navigate, but there is a local citizen’s group who will be happy to file for you.   Email the following to [email protected]:

  • Full Name
  • Address
  • Phone Number (mobile preferred)
  • Current email address
  • Intervenor comments (Optional)
  • Relation to pipeline (impacted landowner, abutter, concerned resident, other).

They will never share or sell your information with anyone, ever.

If you prefer to file on your own, visit www.htcapp.org (Hopewell Township Citizens Against the PennEast Pipeline) for step-by-step instructions.

The proposed PennEast Pipeline project would cause permanent environmental damage.  Along the proposed route in the Sourlands alone – a relatively short section of the route – the pipeline would have devastating impacts on 200 acres of forest, 150 acres of agricultural land and 15 acres of wetlands. The pipeline would require blasting and permanent tree removal – further fragmenting the Sourland forest and destroying habitat for endangered native plants and animals. Fragile   Sourland streams that flow through preserved farmland and protected wetlands would be crossed and severely impacted; pubic-owned natural treasures and historic resources in West Amwell, Pennington, Hopewell Township and Baldpate Mountain would be destroyed.

Along with several other opponents of the proposed PennEast pipeline, the Sourland Conservancy is calling on FERC to kill the project, encouraging NJDEP to deny permits and instilling hope in opposing landowners, citizens, organizations, municipalities and government officials that we can still save our land from the horrendous impacts of this project.

There is power in numbers and in our unity! Let’s overwhelm FERC with our motions to intervene!

Please join us and file your motion to intervene before October 29th!

Sincerely,

Caroline Katmann, Sourland Conservancy Executive Director

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