The PennEast Pipeline motion to intervene with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) received over 1,500 interveners and supporters claiming an interest in the application and becoming a party to the approval litigation. It is predicted that the the number of interveners will continue to grow with those who file late, showing vast opposition and concern for the pipeline’s impacts on open space, waterways, homes, and communities. Of the 1,500 interveners, it includes large organizations, individuals, and municipalities, as well as 22 of 29 potentially affected towns in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
“All of these people intervening show how many are opposed to this pipeline and are willing to prevent it from being approved,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “As interveners, they can now put critical information on the record for FERC to reject this pipeline. These interveners can participate in proceedings and go to court if necessary to block any approvals. There are major impacts from this project and important information that needs to get on the record. Many of these interveners live along the route and have important local knowledge. They can submit information on endangered species, where critical wetlands and streams are located as well as other historic sites during the EIS process. By having so many people intervene, they can also refute misinformation and false statements by PennEast Pipeline.”
“While PennEast chooses to see public involvement as unfortunate; the incredible interest by the public in this project and its damaging effects on our environment is something to commend,” said Michael Pisarro, Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association Policy Director. “The Watershed proudly stands with the amazing people participating in the process and standing up to protect our water, our forests, our wildlife and our special places.”
“It really shows the high level of commitment against Penneast when over 1,500 people are willing to take a legal stand opposing it and sign up as intervenors in the FERC process,” said Patty Cronheim, Hopewell Township Citizens Against the PennEast Pipeline (HTCAPP). “These are regular citizens who want to leave fossil fuel, business as usual, behind and move forward towards a truly clean energy future. By signing up to intervene, people have clearly stated that we’re in it for the long haul against PennEast and we’re not backing down. We’re at a fork in the road, and as recent ReTHInk Energy NJ polls and the high level of interventions against Penneast affirm, New Jerseyans want to travel the road to a truly clean, renewable energy future.”
For more information about intervening, please see When PennEast Files, Here’s What You Can Do.
