Jersey City Responds to FERC’s Draft Environmental Impact Study
By Matt Hunger • Nov 2nd, 2011 • Category: Blog, News, Politics
Calling it “arbitrary and capricious,” Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy summed up the city’s official 28-page response to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) Draft Environmental Impact Statement in no uncertain terms.
The report “lacked any independent analysis or verification,” said Mayor Healy. “The majority of their report was based on either outdated information or representations made by Spectra, the applicant.”
Healy’s sentiments echo the majority of Jersey City residents’ opinion, who made their concerns clear at a public forum held by FERC ahead of the October 31st deadline for public comment on the draft Environmental Impact Study (DEIS).
“Nowhere in their 1,000-page DEIS did we find an adequate response to the previous and extensive filings we have submitted to FERC on this matter,” said Mayor Healy. “Since Jersey City would bear the majority of the risk and receive none of the benefit, we feel that the least FERC can do is go back to the drawing board and really address the issues raised by our team and the hundreds of residents and business owners in Jersey City who spoke out against this pipeline.”
According to Spectra Energy spokeswoman Marylee Hanlee, the energy company stands by the DEIS despite the city’s criticisms.
“Spectra Energy is evaluating the extent it needs to respond to Jersey City’s comments to FERC concerning the DEIS since the data in the record supports that the pipeline will be safe and minimize disturbances to the community,” she says.
Photo: Steve Gold
Like what you've read here? Please consider making a donation or becoming a sustaining member. As a grassroots news organization, we rely on community support -- as well as paid advertising -- to survive.
Matt Hunger is a staff writer for the Jersey City Independent.
Email this author | All posts by Matt Hunger
