Gas line coming? Jersey City, Bayonne wooed for pipeline

[CeeDub]

Will a New High-Pressure Gas Line Help New Yorkers—Or Blow Them Up?
Pipe Bomb

By Nick Pinto Wednesday, Jan 23 2013

From the window of her apartment on Bethune Street, Ynestra King can look out across the West Side Highway to the playground where she plays with children in her family, to the Hudson River, and beyond it, New Jersey. She can also see the place where a massive new pipeline carrying highly pressurized natural gas rises out of the river, carrying its explosive payload into the heart of the meatpacking district.

Courtesy Occupy the Pipeline

Hat tip to Propscene

[MCA™]

JC vs. the pipeline: City takes federal agency to court to try to stop pipeline construction
by E. Assata Wright
Reporter staff writer
Dec 23, 2012

Attorneys for Jersey City have filed a petition with the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. asking the court to review the government’s approval of a natural gas pipeline that is being routed through Jersey City.

This petition, officially known as a Petition for Review, was filed by the city on Dec. 12. The court is now awaiting a response from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the agency that granted approval for the pipeline to be built.

For more than two years, Mayor Jerramiah Healy and the city have argued that this pipeline, which would be 30 inches in diameter and with a possible pressure of 1,200 pounds per square inch, is the first of its magnitude to be built in a densely-populated urban area near several transit hubs such as the Holland Tunnel, the New Jersey Turnpike, and the Hoboken NJ Transit and PATH terminals.

Most of the natural gas carried by the pipeline will serve customers of Con Edison in New York, but Spectra – the owner and builder of the pipeline – has reached an agreement to supply gas to the City of Bayonne, whose officials backed away from their initial opposition to the project.

After FERC approved Spectra Energy’s pipeline project in May, Jersey City filed an appeal asking the agency to reconsider. This appeal was denied in mid-October and the city had 60 days to file documents in court if it planned to fight the pipeline through legal channels.

Dec. 12, the city has essentially argued that since FERC’s annual budget comes from fees it collects from the energy industry it regulates, its decisions are biased in favor of that industry and do not adequately protect communities like Jersey City from problems that may arise from natural gas pipelines and other energy-related infrastructure.

“The city believes that FERC long ago abandoned its regulatory responsibilities in favor of becoming a business partner to [energy] companies like Spectra,” said Derek Fanciullo, an associate corporate counsel for Jersey City. Fanciullo is the lead attorney working on the Spectra case on the city’s behalf. “The city strongly believes this violates the United States Constitution, as well as other federal laws.”

For its petition, the city has partnered with attorneys for several environmental organizations and the Jersey City-based grassroots group No Gas Pipeline. At this time, the city has turned to in-house legal counsel to fight the FERC decision and is not currently expected to retain an outside attorney.

Read more

[thor800]

Anyone have pictures of construction ?  Right next to baseball fields and Budweiser building near turnpike and Caven Point Rd.

Also seems like most people I talk to still have no idea what is going on.

Educate yourself and know the risks to our community !

http://nogaspipeline.org/

[MCA™]

Walkway linking Hoboken Terminal and Newport in Jersey City to close for pipeline construction
 By Charles Hack/The Jersey Journal
on November 30, 2012 at 9:40 AM, updated November 30, 2012 at 9:49 AM

The Hudson River Waterfront Walkway that links Newport in Jersey City and the Hoboken Terminal will be closed for construction of the Spectra Energy gas pipeline this weekend, the company announced.

The walkway will be closed from 8 o’clock tonight to 5 a.m. Monday.

The controversial pipeline, which will snake through parts of Jersey City, Bayonne and offshore Hoboken, gained federal approval in May.

The pipeline will ultimately provide power for New York City. The Houston-based energy company has been drilling just to the south of the Hoboken Terminal to bore under the Hudson River from New Jersey to New York. The pipeline is scheduled to be completed by November 2013.

To help residents this weekend, Spectra will be providing a 24-hour shuttle bus service between Newport and the Hoboken Terminal.

The shuttle will stop at two locations in Newport: Washing””ton Boulevard and Pavonia Avenue, in front of the PATH station; and at Washington Boulevard and 14th Street.

For more information, call (888) 568-7269.

[MCA™]

Kudos to NOGasPipeline and the city for their perseverance.


Feds to reconsider controversial natural-gas pipeline slated for North Jersey
Published: Friday, October 12, 2012, 3:40 PM
Updated: Friday, October 12, 2012, 3:51 PM
Terrence T. McDonald/The Jersey Journal

The federal agency that approved Spectra Energy’s plan to construct a $1.2 billion natural-gas pipeline through parts of Hudson County has agreed to a rehearing of Spectra’s proposal next week, a victory for Jersey City and pipeline opponents.

City officials have opposed the plan fiercely, saying it would jeopardize the safety of residents and discourage development. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will rehear Houston-based Spectra’s petition next Thursday, Oct. 18.

“We are pleased that FERC is rehearing this petition, as we felt the initial approval lacked an independent and thorough analysis by the agency,” said Mayor Jerramiah Healy. “However, we know this is an uphill battle and it is quite possible that FERC will uphold its original position.”

If FERC upholds its decision to green-light the pipeline, Healy said the city will appeal the decision to federal court.

In May, FERC OK’d Spectra's proposal, which calls for replacing nearly five miles of existing pipeline, as well as adding about 15 miles of new, 30-inch pipe extending from Staten Island to Bayonne, through Jersey City and offshore Hoboken until it terminates in Manhattan.

The city appealed, saying FERC is "running a rigged game," approving pipeline routes proposed by energy companies while ignoring "viable alternatives" suggested by other parties and downplaying the concerns of pipeline opponents.

Spectra officials could not immediately be reached to comment. In the past, the company’s spokeswoman has said the pipeline would be one of the safest in North America.

[jcgov]

Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy announced today that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has announced a rehearing on Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012 of the petition to construct the controversial Spectra Energy natural gas pipeline.

Read more.

[Rabelais]

(Side thought... I know No Gas Pipeline has been doing some great work trying to fight this, but it seems like the first thing they should've done is bought yesgaspipline . org. Seems like a kinda obvious move.)

I don't think that would have made much of a difference. The only reason you know of yesgasspipeling . org is that Spectra has beeen using it. If nogaspipeline had bought it, we'd probably just have something like progaspipeline . org.

[TheFang]

(Side thought... I know No Gas Pipeline has been doing some great work trying to fight this, but it seems like the first thing they should've done is bought yesgaspipline . org. Seems like a kinda obvious move.)

[MCA™]

Bayonne groundbreaking for Spectra Energy's natural gas pipeline is in city-owned lot downtown
Published: Friday, July 27, 2012, 3:01 AM
By Rafal Rogoza / The Jersey Journal

The controversial Spectra Energy natural gas pipeline has broken ground in Bayonne.

Work crews were busy yesterday inside a city-owned lot at Avenue A and West First Street preparing the site for "horizontal direct drilling," said Marylee Hanley, spokeswoman for the Houston-based energy company.

"We began mobilizing on July 9," said Hanley, who couldn't say when construction would be completed in Bayonne. She said the entire 20-mile gas line project, which will also snake through Jersey City and offshore Hoboken, would be completed by November 2013. The public will be kept apprised of the construction schedule through the company's website, yesgaspipeline.org., she said.

In May, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the $1.2 billion project over the objections of Jersey City and Hoboken officials who have argued that the pipeline poses a potential danger to their residents. Bayonne officials essentially signed off on the project after Spectra changed the route of the pipeline to avoid some residential neighborhoods.

Last month, Jersey City issued a scathing, 43-page rebuttal to a federal agency's decision to approve the pipeline, with a top city attorney claiming the agency is biased toward energy companies and has ignored the city's concerns about safety along the pipeline route. FERC is "running a rigged game," approving pipeline routes proposed by energy companies while ignoring "viable alternatives" suggested by other parties, Derek S. Fanciullo, the city's assistant corporation counsel, wrote in the petition.

If FERC declines Jersey City's request for a rehearing, the city's final chance to stop the pipeline would be an appeal to a federal circuit court. Fanciullo said the city will "litigate this as long as we can." When the agency approved the pipeline, it said it would have only minor effects on public safety and the environment. Spectra has repeatedly stressed that it believes the pipeline will be one of the safest in

North America. Hanley said yesterday that a traffic management plan has been worked out with Bayonne police and fire officials and stressed the project will create 5,000 union jobs. She could not say when ground would be broken in Jersey City.

[jcgov]

City Files Comprehensive Petition for Rehearing with FERC to Stop Spectra Pipeline

Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy announced today that the City of Jersey City has filed a lengthy and comprehensive petition requesting a rehearing with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) who last month conditionally approved the proposal by Spectra Energy to construct a high-pressure natural gas pipeline in Jersey City.
<br>
"We have argued throughout this process that it has been one lacking any independent or thorough analysis by FERC,” said Mayor Healy. “The findings and arguments made by the pipeline company have been taken as gospel by FERC, while most, if not all, of our concerns have been downplayed or disregarded.”
<br>
The 43-page petition, among other things, calls into the question the constitutionality of FERC to fairly evaluate construction proposals for gas pipelines since the agency is funded entirely on fees generated by energy companies, which the City contends violates its fundamental right to due process.
<br>
Read more.

[Bobblehead]

Oh, great.

http://nyack.patch.com/articles/gas-line-explosion-towering-flames-greeted-nyack-firefighters#video-10407467

Just wait until that happens here!

[MCA™]

State commission approves plan diverting Liberty State Park land for Spectra pipeline
Published: Thursday, June 07, 2012, 1:02 PM
Updated: Thursday, June 07, 2012, 1:03 PM
By Terrence T. McDonald/The Jersey Journal

A state commission today approved Spectra Energy’s proposal to divert a portion of Liberty State Park in Jersey City to the Houston energy giant for its controversial natural-gas pipeline. Spectra Energy was seeking a 20-year lease on a nearly 1 acre portion of the parkland that will house the pipe. The company, which received final federal approval for the pipeline on May 21, plans to pay the state about $2.3 million over the course of the lease.

Jersey City and Hoboken officials have been vocal in their opposition to the pipeline, which would run for about 15 miles underneath Bayonne, Jersey City and offshore Hoboken before heading into Manhattan. But the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last month said the pipe would have limited impact on the environment and public safety.

Jeff Tittel, director of the NJ Sierra Club, said in a statement today that the state commission, which approved Spectra’s plan for Liberty State Park by a 5-1 vote, took “the side of dirty fossil fuels” over Hudson County residents.

“This is like putting a pipeline through our Yellowstone or our Yosemite,” Tittel said.

Spectra’s payments to the state include about $862,000 for the 20-year lease of the roughly 1 acre that will house the pipe, about $66,000 for use of temporary work space as the company installs the pipe and an additional $1.4 million lump sum to compensate for the “ecological, environmental and recreational impact” of the work.

Marylee Hanley, a Spectra spokeswoman, has said that the pipeline will create jobs and bring down energy costs in the area. Speaking at a hearing on the Liberty State Park proposal in April, she said the pipe would not cause any disruption to the park once it’s installed.

"The pipe is buried underneath the ground," Hanley said.

Spectra plans to begin construction on the pipeline this summer.

[DarkMoment]

HELP US SUE FERC TO STOP SPECTRA PIPELINE! IT AIN'T OVER BABY! BECOME A MEMBER!!

Tomorrow, Sunday, June 3rd from 1 to 5 pm, NO Gas Pipeline will be setting up tent and table at Exchange Place and Montgomery by noon. Any volunteers who can help us both with new membership(need members to sue FERC!) and getting "Ban Fracking Bill in NJ" petitions signed would be appreciated. Any time you have. Thanks.


Bike JC's Third Annual Jersey City Ward Tour and Festival Sunday, June 3rd.
 
Bicycle advocacy group Bike JC is hosting its third annual tour traveling through each of Jersey City's six wards THIS Sunday, June 3rd.
 
The 16-mile group bike ride starts and finishes at Exchange Place where a festival featuring homemade goods from Not Yo Mama's Craft Fair, live music, a nonprofit showcase, food and beer will be stationed from 1 pm to 5 pm. Riders and non-riders are welcome to the event.

The tour kicks off at 11 am.  Riders can register online for free or for a suggested donation of $5 at this link - Ward Tour

Riders must be age 10 or older and wear helmets to participate.
 
For more information, visit bikejc.org. 

 

[jcgov]

City Continues Fight Against Natural Gas Pipeline; Mayor Healy Vows to Pursue All Options Available.

Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy stressed today the City’s disappointment that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved a proposal authorizing the construction of a high-pressure natural gas pipeline to run through 6.5 miles of the densely populated Jersey City.

“We are not entirely surprised as this entire process has lacked an independent and thorough analysis,” said Mayor Healy. “We are committed to fighting this decision and will appeal to FERC for a rehearing and, if necessary, bring the matter to the federal circuit court.”

Read more.

[MCA™]

Maps of proposed route for Spectra Energy's natural gas pipeline gallery (12 photos)

Feds approve gas pipeline that will run through Jersey City, Bayonne, and offshore Hoboken
Published: Monday, May 21, 2012, 8:14 PM
Updated: Monday, May 21, 2012, 8:45 PM
Terrence T. McDonald/The Jersey Journal

Federal officials tonight gave the green light to a controversial, $1.2 billion natural-gas pipeline Houston-based Spectra Energy seeks to construct in parts of Bayonne, Jersey City and offshore Hoboken.

The pipeline is opposed by Jersey City and Hoboken officials, with Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy making it something of a personal mission to keep the plan from coming to fruition. Opponents said the pipeline would discourage residential development along the route and create numerous safety hazards.

Today's unanimous decision doesn't come as much of a shock. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's final environment impact statement for the proposal, released in March, said the pipeline would have "limited adverse environmental impacts," which suggested to pipeline opponents that FERC's five commissioners would ultimately give the plan the go-ahead.

Healy said tonight he was disappointed but not surprised by the news.

"The entire process has been one lacking an independent and thorough analysis," he said in a statement. "While we review all of our options, we remain opposed to this high-pressure pipeline running through our densely populated city."

Spectra's proposal calls for replacing nearly five miles of existing pipeline, as well as adding about 15 miles of new, 30-inch pipe from Staten Island to Bayonne, through Jersey City and offshore Hoboken until it terminates in Manhattan.

Spectra spokeswoman Marylee Hanley said her company is "pleased" the project has been approved, but said she couldn't respond to specific questions until the company reviews the 60-page document FERC released tonight.

"We remain committed to safely constructing this critically needed pipeline," Hanley said in a statement. "We will continue to cooperate with the community and appropriate regulatory agencies throughout the construction process as we work on a project that will create jobs, offer environmental benefits and lower energy costs throughout the NJ/NY region."

FERC has issued more than a dozen conditions Spectra must meet before construction can begin, but most of them are unlikely to satisfy pipeline opponents.

The conditions require the Houston energy giant to file detailed maps of the pipeline's route, submit soil and groundwater test results to FERC, alert residents whose properties will be affected by construction, and more.

Opponents of the pipeline, which include a group called No Gas Pipeline that has become ubiquitous at city events, have few options after yesterday's approval.

There are only two more layers of appeal for objectors, included among them Jersey City, Hoboken, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the Jersey City Medical Center and more. They have 30 days to ask FERC to re-hear the proposal, and after that, they have 90 days to file an appeal with a federal circuit court.

If FERC's decision is not overturned, construction on the pipeline could begin this summer.

[TheFang]

Not the beer!

Don't Frack My Beer!

[MCA™]

Hearing at Liberty State Park in Jersey City draws few speakers, but all oppose Spectra gas pipeline plan
Published: Tuesday, April 17, 2012, 3:00 AM
Terrence T. McDonald/The Jersey Journal

Fewer than two dozen people showed up yesterday for a public hearing at Liberty State Park in Jersey City to voice their opinions on Spectra Energy’s controversial natural gas pipeline proposal.

The Houston energy giant has proposed adding about 15 miles of pipe underneath portions of Bayonne, Jersey City and offshore Hoboken. The plan, which federal officials are set to approve by mid-June, includes burying the pipe on the western edge of the 1,212-acre state park.

Jeff Tittel, director of the NJ Sierra Club, opposes the pipeline proposal as a whole, but said at the park yesterday that putting it in Liberty State Park would be a “desecration.”

“To paraphrase Woody Guthrie, this land belongs to you and me, not Spectra,” Tittel said.

Spectra would pay the state about $2.3 million over the course of the next two decades to lease the approximately 1 acre of park land it needs for the pipe. State officials said yesterday they would not approve the plan until federal officials give their OK to the entire pipeline proposal.

No one spoke in favor of the pipeline, though labor groups have voiced their support at past hearings. Spectra spokeswoman Marylee Hanley said the pipeline, if approved by federal officials, would not cause any disruption to the park once it’s installed.

“The pipe is buried underneath the ground,” Hanley said. “Once the construction is complete, the ground and the area will be returned and restored to its original status, or better,” she said.

[MCA™]

Two hearings on Spectra gas pipeline set for today at Liberty State Park
Published: Monday, April 16, 2012, 3:00 AM
Terrence T. McDonald/The Jersey Journal

Members of the public who want to voice their opinion on the controversial Spectra Energy natural-gas pipeline proposed for portions of Hudson County will get yet another chance to speak out at two hearings at Liberty State Park today.

The Houston energy giant, which has proposed to add about 15 miles of new pipe underneath parts of Bayonne, Jersey City and offshore Hoboken, wants to snake a portion of the pipeline through Liberty State Park.

Spectra wants a 20-year lease on the nearly 1 acre of parkland that will house the pipe, for which it plans to pay the state about $862,000 over the course of the lease. The state would also receive about $66,000 for use of temporary work space, and an additional $1.4 million lump sum to compensate for the “ecological, environmental and recreational impact” of the work.

Jersey City and Hoboken officials have voiced their staunch opposition to the pipeline, saying it would threaten the safety of residents and discourage future development along the proposed route.

A final environmental study released in late March said the pipeline would not have an adverse impact on Hudson County. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is set to vote on the proposal by mid-June.

Monday’s meetings take place at 3 and 6 p.m. at the Terminal Building at 1 Audrey Zapp Dr. in Liberty State Park. Members of the public will be allowed to comment.

[DarkMoment]

Hudson Reporter: Spectra hearing is April 16: Energy company wants to rent land near Liberty State Park for natural gas pipeline

Sunday, April 1, 2012

The article only mentions the meeting at 3 p.m. on Monday, April 16.  There is second meeting at 6 p.m. the same day.

by E. Assata Wright Reporter

The state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is currently seeking public comment regarding a request by Spectra Energy to divert and rent less than an acre of land near Liberty State Park for its proposed natural gas pipeline. The public hearing will take place on Monday, April 16 at 3 p.m. at Liberty State Park, 1 Audrey Zapp Drive in the CRRNJ Terminal Building.

The DEP will also accept written comments regarding Spectra’s proposed lease of state-owned land through April 20. Written comments can be sent to Nancy Lawrence in the DEP’s Green Acres Program, nancy.lawrence@dep.state.nj.us.

Under current plans, the 19.8-mile pipeline would be constructed through parts of Jersey City, Bayonne, and Linden. A portion of the pipeline route would be constructed along the border of Liberty State Park and would affect six lots of state-owned property, totaling almost one acre of land, according to a notice from the DEP. Two of these lots are in the vicinity of Bayview Avenue. Four lots are located near Liberty Science Center.

Spectra has filed a request with DEP to lease these six lots for 20 years. Additional state-owned land would be needed during the pipeline’s construction phase as well. To compensate the state, Spectra will pay New Jersey a total of $2.27 million over the course of the 20-year lease. According to the DEP, this money covers $862,721, total, in rent; $65,809 for temporary work space during the construction phase of the project; and $1.3 million to offset any “permanent ecological, environmental, and recreational [impacts]” of the pipeline to the area. The company has also agreed to compensate the state for “tree mitigation,” the amount of which has yet to be determined.

The Friends of Liberty State Park Board of Directors opposes the pipeline project.

Awaiting state approval

If approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the proposed pipeline would include 19.8 miles of new and replacement pipes, six new stations, and other related modifications in Linden, Jersey City, and Bayonne. In Jersey City, the underground pipeline route would run through nearly every municipal ward and near such sensitive areas as Jersey City Medical Center, several schools, the Holland Tunnel, the New Jersey Turnpike, and transportation infrastructure near the Jersey City-Hoboken border.

The pipeline would cross the Hudson River into New York to connect the company’s existing pipeline infrastructure to Manhattan and Staten Island, supplying customers of Con Edison.

The portion of the pipeline route near Liberty State Park will be 30 inches in diameter and will be built four-to-six feet underground, according to the DEP.

Spectra has also said that it will supply energy to power facilities operated by Bayonne Plant Holding and boilers at the International Matex Tank Terminals, also in Bayonne. It is designed to bring 800 million cubic feet of natural gas each day to the two states, according to the project web site.

Because of the pipeline’s close proximity to sensitive areas, local activists and city officials have argued that a natural gas explosion could cause mass casualties and significantly damage important transportation infrastructure. Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy has also noted that the potential hazards posed by a gas pipeline could hurt future commercial and residential development in the city.

Despite the concerns of residents and the city, and the upcoming DEP hearing, in December 2011 DEP Commissioner Bob Martin approved several land use permits allowing Spectra to move forward with pipeline construction.

Last month, FERC issued its Final Environmental Impact Statement, paving the way for federal approval of the project this summer. Spectra expects to begin construction on the pipeline late this year.

The City of Jersey City, the membership-based activist group No Gas Pipeline, and the New Jersey chapter of he Sierra Club have all threatened to file lawsuits if FERC approves the pipeline. (See “Kill Time,” Jersey City Reporter, Feb. 26, 2012.)

“Although it would be unfortunate for such a legal action to materialize, it would not be unusual or unexpected,” said Spectra spokeswoman Marylee Hanley. “As has been true since the [pipeline] project began, we will continue to reach out and work with the community.”

SIDEBAR Spectra vs. Chevron

For the past two years Jersey City has argued that construction of the proposed Spectra Energy natural gas pipeline will hurt future residential and commercial development in the city since, the city argues, it will pose an environmental risk that few developers will want to inherit.

It seems Chevron, a Fortune 100 petrochemical company, agrees with the city’s assessment.

When Chevron took over Texaco in 2001 the company acquired several oil fields and other Texaco-owned properties.

“Chevron is now looking to consolidate some of these properties and holdings,” said Jeff Tittel, executive director of the New Jersey chapter of he Sierra Club. “As a part of that consolidation the company is planning to convert some of its properties for other uses.”

Among the Texaco properties Chevron acquired was a site in Bayonne which the company plans to remediate and sell to a developer for residential development. The Spectra pipeline would, however, cross this Bayonne site, a fact Chevron believes could impact the value of its property.

In written comments submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Chevron stated, “the project’s proposed route across the Chevron site poses significant environmental risks by passing under a protective slurry wall, passing through the area of highest benzene contamination on the site, passing through an area of heterogeneous historic fill, risking the opening of preferential pathways for the movement of contaminants and risking the re-contamination of remediated areas of the site…These concerns relate to the possibility that the proposed crossing could negatively impact…future residential units to be located within 20 feet and installation of utilities for residential redevelopment on the Chevron site.”

Chevron has asked FERC to grant an emergency abeyance.

“What we’re seeing is a powerful, multi-billion dollar energy company making many of he same arguments we’ve been making for two years,” said Tittel.

Marylee Hanley, a spokesman for Spectra Energy, said there is no basis for granting the emergency motion. “We’ve adequately addressed these concerns,” she said, calling the draft environmental impact statement a viable and safe route for the pipeline project.

The company has in the past stated that the proposed route was drafted because of its “constructability” and the fact that it does not cross residential property along 100 percent of its 16 miles. –

EAW E-mail E. Assata Wright atawright@hudsonreporter.com.

Source:Hudson Reporter

    NO Gas Pipeline - 235 3rd Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302   |    nogaspipeline@gmail.com

[MCA™]

FERC Approves Spectra Pipeline!  Pipeline Update Presentation & Panel at City Hall
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued their Final Environment Impact Study (FEIS) a week ago approving of Spectra's plans to build a pipeline through the heart of Jersey City to deliver gas to Manhattan.  For those not familiar with the plans, you can find a map of the route as well as other information on the NO Gas Pipeline website.

What does this mean?
The Downtown Coalition of Neighborhood Associations (DCNA) and NO Gas Pipeline, together with the panel guests below, will provide an update on the proposed Spectra Energy gas pipeline and what options are available to overturn the FERC decision. This event will start promptly at 7:00 PM. Q&A with Panel will follow.

Monday, March 26
7:00 - 8:00pm:  panel
8:00 - 10:00pm:  film

Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, City Hall
280 Grove Street, Jersey City

Program

• Introductions:  Marlene O'Haire-Sandkamp, President DCNA & Dale Hardman, President, NO Gas Pipeline (7:00 to 7:05pm)
• Mayor's film on Spectra Energy pipeline:  Jennifer Morrill, Press Secretary & Mayor Jerramiah Healy (7:05 to 7:10pm)
• Speech by Mayor Jerramiah Healy (7:10 to 7:20pm)
• Update on pipeline and what City is doing with a 1 pg take-away printed for audience:  Derek Fanciullo, Attorney for Jersey City (7:20 to 7:30pm)
• Comments by Jersey City Environmental Commission: William 'BJ' Schulte, Attorney, Eastern Environmental Law Center & Vice Chairman (7:30 to 7:40pm)
• Speech by Councilman Steven Fulop (7:40 to 7:50pm)
• Speech by Dale Hardman (7:50 to 8:00pm)
• Wrapup Comments by Marlene O'Haire-Sandkamp (8:00 to 8:05pm)
• Q&A Panel (8:05 to 8:30pm)
• Film: Jersey City-NYC Spectra "Don't Blow Up" by Shannon Ayala (8:30 to 10:00pm)

Contact:  Dale Hardman, 201-892-3846, nogaspipeline(at)gmail.com

[Binky]

I don't think you'll find anyone on this site who is in favor of the pipeline.

[Miss Eliza Bennet]

The late Audrey Zapp once said that Liberty State Park was made into a park (instead of a developer's paradise) in part because it was home to a rare species of bird. I don't know which, but perhaps someone out there does. Of course that was forty years ago and that bird or endangered animal may no longer be on the endangered species list. I do know that snowy owls occasionally winter in the park.

Any biologists out there? And I'm very disappointed the Hackensack River Baykeeper didn't file for Intervenor status. And isn't it odd they'd want to run this pipeline right by some of the poorest neighborhoods and through several playgrounds heavily used by children of color?

Definitely calculated and evil. And Michael Bloomberg should be ashamed of himself for accepting the gas. IMHO.

[jcgov]

Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy today strongly criticized the findings in the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) issued today by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on Spectra Energy’s proposed unprecedented high-pressure natural gas pipeline.

“There is nothing green about this report that essentially green lights this unprecedented, dangerous gas line,” said Mayor Healy.

Read Mayor Healy's Comments In Full Here.

[MCA™]

Final report on Spectra Energy pipeline bad news for pipeline opponents
Published: Friday, March 16, 2012, 11:17 AM
Updated: Friday, March 16, 2012, 11:23 AM
Terrence T. McDonald/The Jersey Journal

The proposed Spectra Energy natural-gas pipeline that would run through parts of Bayonne, Jersey City and offshore Hoboken would result in “limited adverse environmental impacts,” according to the final environment-impact statement (EIS) on the proposal.

The highly anticipated statement, posted on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission website this morning, is good news for Spectra and bad news for opponents of the pipeline, who have argued that it would create myriad public-safety problems and stymie development in Hudson County.

“We determined that construction and operation of the NJ-NY Project would result in limited adverse environmental impacts,” reads the 511-page report. “These limited impacts would mostly occur during the period of construction.”

The EIS is the final step before FERC rules on the proposal, which would add about 15 miles of natural-gas pipeline starting in Staten Island and running through parts of Bayonne, Jersey City and offshore Hoboken. An additional 5 miles of pipe running from Linden to Staten Island would also be replaced.

An alternative plan that would have the pipeline crossing the Hudson River near the east end of Caven Point Road in Jersey City was rejected because it would have required Con Edison to build a new pipeline connecting to its facility near W 16th Street, according to the report.

A last-minute attempt by Chevron to delay the release of today’s EIS was rebuffed by the commission last night, according to a FERC spokeswoman. Chevron had argued that a portion of the pipeline that traverses its Bayonne property should be moved.

Officials with Hoboken and Jersey City, especially Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy, have advocated against the plan, saying it would threaten public-safety and possible future development in the cities.

Spectra officials say the pipeline would be one of the safest in North America.

FERC is expected to issue a ruling on the proposal in late spring.

[DarkMoment]

DCNA & NO Gas Pipeline @ City Hall - Stop Spectra Pipeline City-wide Update & Film.

The Downtown Coalition of Neighborhood Associations (DCNA) and NO Gas Pipeline, together with our panel guests below, will provide an update on the Spectra Energy gas pipeline and what options are available if we need to overturn the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC)ruling following the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) relative to Jersey City. This event will start promptly at 7PM. Q&A to Panel will follow.

When: Monday, March 26
Time: 7-8pm Panel; Film 8-10pm
Where: Council Chambers
City Hall, 2nd Floor
230 Grove Street.
Jersey City, NJ 07302
Contact: Dale Hardman
201-892-3846 nogaspipeline@gmail.com


RSVP at FACEBOOK: Click Here!


Marlene O'Haire-Sandkamp, President DCNA & Dale Hardman, President, NO Gas Pipeline - Intros-7:00 to 7:05pm

*Film - Jennifer Morrill, Press Secretary, Mayor Jerramiah Healy. Mayor's film on Spectra Energy pipeline-7:05 to 7:10pm

*Mayor Jerramiah Healy - Speaks at 7:10 to 7:20pm

*Derek Fanciullo, Attorney for Jersey City - 7:20 to 7:30pm-Update on pipeline and what City is doing with a 1 pg take-away printed for audience.

*William 'BJ' Schulte, Attorney, Eastern Environmental Law Center & Vice Chairman, Jersey City Environmental Commission-7:30-7:40pm

 *Councilman Steven Fulop-7:40-7:50pm

*Dale Hardman-7:50-8:00pm

*Wrap Up Comments-Marlene O'Haire-Sandkamp-8:00-8:05pm

*Q&A Panel-8:05 - 8:30pm

*Film-8:30pm -10pm-Jersey City-NYC Spectra "Don't Blow Up"-Shannon Ayala
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Membership - Why it matters?

Become a Member to Help NGP Sue FERC in Federal Court. We Need to Show We Represent Our Community.

More Members, Better Chance Judge Grants Us Legal Standing. YOU Make the Difference!

The Spectra Energy gas pipeline is a federally regulated pipeline,just like the Exxon Keystone XL pipeline.  However, Spectra Energy's pipeline is an interstate pipeline that originates domestically, not in a foreign country.  The President does not have the right to stop the Spectra pipeline.  Only the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) may rule on interstate pipelines in US. Only Federal courts may overturn a FERC ruling when a suit is brought by an intervenor given legal standing. Your Membership will help NO Gas Pipeline sue FERC to Stop Spectra gas pipeline.  YOU and your neighbors make the difference !

 
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