The Jersey City Independent "

Share/Save

This map shows an overview of the pipeline project; for a more detailed look at the proposed pipeline’s path through Jersey City, click here

In a nine-page letter submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on Thursday, local advocacy group No Gas Pipeline (NGP) joined with the state chapter of the Sierra Club and Food & Water Watch to file for official intervenor status in the federal application of Texas-based Spectra Energy’s plan to run a natural gas pipeline through Jersey City into Manhattan. In doing so, NGP brought up the rear of the major local anti-pipeline organizations to file for such status before the deadline, which was Thursday.

The letter, which was submitted by attorney William Schulte of the Eastern Environmental Law Center, states that NGP, the Sierra Club and Food & Water Watch are “extremely concerned” about Spectra’s application. Echoing other critics of the proposed pipeline, Schulte warns that “the pipeline and its associated facilities will cut directly through some of the most heavily industrialized and densely populated areas of New Jersey and New York – areas that already bear a disproportionate share of our society’s environmental burdens.”

Schulte’s letter mentions natural gas pipeline explosions in San Bruno, Calif., as well as Philadelphia and Ohio, to make the case that the pipeline’s proposed path would endanger those nearby, a concern that is intensely felt in the densely populated New York metropolitan area.

Setting it apart from many other intervenor applications, Schulte’s letter also refers to several technical claims as reasons why Spectra’s application is cause for concern, alleging that Spectra is not in compliance with federal law and FERC guidelines, vulnerable to attack on its computer data acquisition systems, unclear about how it will dispose of harmful chemicals known as PCBs and that the pipeline will expose consumers to high levels of radon gas.

If an entity is granted intervenor status, it legally becomes an official party to the FERC proceeding (read more on this process from FERC here).

Even a cursory review of the case docket reveals that scores of those requesting intervenor status are from Jersey City. (To see the full docket, click here and search for case number “CP11-56″.) The list of local public agencies, nonprofit organizations, corporations and individuals who have filed includes — but is certainly not limited to — the following:

• City of Jersey City
• New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
• New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
• Port Authority of New York & New Jersey
• Jersey City Public School District and Jersey City Board of Education
• Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority
• New Jersey NAACP
• Sierra Club, Food & Water Watch, and No Gas Pipeline
• 4th Street Arts
• Civic JC
• Jersey City Episcopal Community Development Corporation
• Urban League of Hudson County
• Jersey City Parks Coalition
• Friends of Liberty State Park
• St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church
• St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
• St. Paul of the Cross Church
• 9th Street Block Association
• Hamilton Park Condominiums Inc.
• Harsimus Cove Association
• Historic Paulus Hook Association
• Port Liberté Homeowners Association
• Powerhouse Arts District Neighborhood Association
• Sergeant Anthony Park Association
• Village Neighborhood Association
• Washington Park Association
• Christ Hospital
• Jersey City Medical Center
• 110 Hoboken Avenue Development Urban Renewal Co.
• Newport Associates Development Company
• Paul Bellan-Boyer
• Althea Bernheim
• Donovan Bezer
• Geoffrey Elkind
• Steven Fulop
• John Hanussak
• Becky Hoffman
• Rolando Lavarro
• Jim Legge
• Carol Lester
• Tomas Liogys
• Valerio Luccio
• Gerald Lyons
• Robin Pinkowitz
• Mia Scanga
• Bethe Schwartz

No Gas Pipeline’s Motion to Intervene in Spectra Gas Pipeline Case