For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Jackie Greger, Jackie.Greger@sierraclub.org
NESE Gains Air Permit, Locking-In New Dirty Gas Infrastructure in NJ
Trenton, NJ - Today, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) announced that it has approved Williams Transco’s air quality permit for their Northeast Supply Enhancement Project (NESE) fossil fuel project. The Final permit is accessible here by clicking on the Reports drop down menu, and selecting Approved PCP Permits, and entering “36396” for the PI number and click Submit.
This dirty project encompasses:
- Construction of a new gas-powered compressor station in Franklin Township near Trap Rock Quarry.
- 3.5 miles of new connecting pipeline through Old Bridge.
- 23 miles of new pipeline under the Raritan Bay/New York Harbor.
This air permit focuses specifically on Compressor Station 206, which is a natural gas 32,000 horsepower compressor station located at RT 518 Franklin Township (Block 5.02 Lot 25), Somerset County, NJ 08853-4171. This permit includes the installation of two natural gas-fired simple-cycle turbines.
The compressor will negatively impact air quality by releasing combustion pollutants from the natural gas turbines, pollutants from blowdowns, and, based on past history, the inevitable leaks of methane and air toxics that come from pipeline infrastructure. Notable combustion pollutants are carbon monoxide & dioxide, nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), and other air toxics such as:
- Benzene
- Formaldehyde
- Toluene
- Xylene
- Ethyl Benzene
- Acrolein
- Hydrogen Sulfide
- Sulphur Dioxide
This decision gives Williams Transco the greenlight for construction of Compressor Station 206. Prior to this decision, the NJDEP held just one public hearing on November 13th where hundreds of residents and members of the public voiced their concerns.
The NJ Sierra Club submitted technical comments challenging the air permit on November 24th, and is currently involved in a lawsuit against Williams Transco regarding their water permits in coalition with other state energy and environmental advocates.
NJ Sierra Club Conservation Program Manager, Taylor McFarland, made the following statement:
“Today’s decision granting Williams Transco its air permit for NESE fails to keep New Jersey communities safe by locking us into dirty natural gas infrastructure for decades to come. Communities surrounding the compressor station and along the pipeline route will experience increased air pollution from these air toxics. On top of this, residential communities surrounding the compressor station will face a risk of explosions and gas leakage that will endanger human life and the surrounding environment.
Governor Murphy’s decision to move this project forward is disappointing; this is not what a clean and affordable energy future looks like for our state. Ultimately, Trump’s administration has strong-armed this multi-state project across the finish line and it is sad to see how we are all being compromised into unhealthy and costly development because of his fossil fuel and anti-clean energy agenda.
NJ should not be constructing new natural gas infrastructure, particularly when the state does not receive the benefit of more energy supply, but receives all the pollution from the gas infrastructure. NY should be looking for alternatives to provide energy to its Long Island residents that do not compromise both the health of New Jerseyans and New Yorkers, dump tons of carbon emissions into the atmosphere, rip through our lands and wetlands, and dredge up toxic chemicals in the Hudson and Raritan Bays.
The Sierra Club will continue to legally fight NESE at every level.”
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About the Sierra Club: The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information about our work in New Jersey, visit www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey