In Your Opinion: Our Air And Health Are Not For Sale

Submitted by the Franklin Township Task Force on CS206 & NESE.

The proposed Compressor Station 206 will pollute our air with toxic chemicals for decades if it is built.  That’s one reason why we are calling on Governor Murphy and the NJDEP to deny the water permit applications so that Compressor Station 206 and pipeline near and under Raritan Bay is not constructed.

The final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) Project was published by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on January 25, 2019, and it’s predictable that Williams/Transco will be given FERC’s Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity anytime between the end of February and late April 2019.

In honor of Black History month and our fight to stop NESE, think about what Dr. Mae Jemison, first African-American female astronaut, said:  “Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations.”

The NESE Project can only be stopped if NY or NJ denies required water permits.  There are still major concerns with NESE, and we’ll provide action ideas and supporting information in this publication over the coming weeks about various topics.

The issue in today’s letter addresses the impacts of construction and operational airborne toxins on our health, well-being and the environment.

• Compressor Station 206 will emit cancer-causing airborne chemicals.
•  Construction of the NESE Project will go through or near Superfund Sites and other toxic sites.
• NESE could contribute to more floods that lead to mold, and long-standing excess water can potentially increase transmission of communicable diseases.
• For more information about the impacts of the NESE Project on our air and health (and more), see the Action Alert – Our Health And Safety Are Not For Sale & Urge Governor Murphy & NJDEP to Deny Water Permit Applications for CS206 – on the website, www.scrap-NESE.org.

The last letter addressed impacts from increased greenhouse gas from NESE, and future letters to the editor will include information about other concerns with NESE:

• Risks from Construction in Raritan Bay
• Safety Risk – Fires or Explosions
• Risks to Water Supply and Groundwater
• NESE is not in the Public Interest; questionable need for this added gas; and NESE thwarts NJ & NY clean energy goals

WHAT CAN PEOPLE DO TO GET THE ATTENTION OF GOVERNOR MURPHY AND THE NJDEP?

1.     A letter to download/print, sign and mail to Governor Murphy and the NJDEP Commissioner can be found on the website, www.scrap-NESE.org.   Share it with your family, friends and neighbors to ask them to do the same.

2.     Look for online petitions to the Governor and NJDEP with a message to them asking for denial of the permits.  One can be found at:  https://secure.foodandwaterwatch.org/act/deny-nese-permits

3.     You & your friends can also call the Governor at 609-292-6000 often and let him know that you are counting on the NJDEP to scrutinize the applications and hold Williams-Transco to the high environmental requirements of NJ with the expectation that the permits will be denied.  Tell him why you care.  Remind him of what he said in August 2018:  “Being responsible stewards of the environment is not a campaign promise, it’s a moral, philosophical, and economic obligation that we have to ensure a strong economy and quality of life for all New Jersey residents today and for generations to come.”

Contact the Franklin Township Task Force on CS206 & NESE if you need copies of the letter, have ideas, or want to get involved – stopFTcompressor@yahoo.com.  You can also find updated information on our website, www.scrap-NESE.org & on the NY coalition’s website, www.stopthewilliamspipeline.org.

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