Morgan Caplan, (443) 986-1221 or Morgan.Caplan@sierraclub.org
Rita Yelda, 732-979-0655, ryelda@nrdc.org
Harrisburg, PA - Today, the Sierra Club and Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) filed a petition for a declaratory order urging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to maintain oversight over the Fortress liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project. The project includes a gas liquefaction facility in Wyalusing, PA and an LNG export facility in Gibbstown, NJ. The project proponents are subsidiaries of New Fortress Energy and other Fortress corporate entities, as this infographic describes. These Fortress entities filed petitions almost two years ago claiming that FERC, which regulates LNG export facilities, does not have jurisdiction over either facility.
In an attempt to construct these facilities without FERC oversight or proper environmental regulation, the project proponents claimed that there is not a significant connection between the two facilities. But the reality is that the proposed facility in Wyalusing is part of an integrated interstate LNG export scheme that would liquefy fracked gas in Pennsylvania, then truck or train it across communities in Pennsylvania to be loaded onto ships at a proposed export facility in Gibbstown, New Jersey, before being shipped to overseas markets.
“Fossil fuel companies should not be allowed to just circumvent the rules and destroy our clean air and water and harm our communities. Without proper oversight, these companies would be allowed to construct unnecessary and harmful projects in our neighborhoods,” said Sierra Club Senior Campaign Representative Kelsey Krepps. “We will not stand idly by as greedy corporations continue to push their own agendas and attempt to build polluting projects that would avoid any serious public interest or thorough and proper environmental review.”
"As the fossil fuel industry finds new ways to ship fracked gas across the world, we need to make sure the regulations protecting our communities keep pace," said Sahana Rao, Project Attorney at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). "The Fortress LNG project is an example of how seemingly small changes in operation can exploit dangerous loopholes in federal oversight. The Fortress LNG project puts the New Jersey and Pennsylvania communities at risk, and it cannot be allowed to move forward without thorough consideration of the harm it may cause communities and the environment.”
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, visit www.sierraclub.org.
About the NRDC
NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.