Jersey City residents concerned about a natural gas pipeline proposed by a Texas energy company will have a chance to tell the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) how they feel about the plan at a public hearing this coming Wednesday.
The public session is scheduled for Aug. 4 at the Ferris High School Auditorium, 35 Colgate St. Jersey City, starting at 7 p.m. An earlier session will take place for Bayonne residents on Monday, Aug. 2, at 7 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 669 Avenue C in Bayonne.
Jersey City and Bayonne residents got an opportunity earlier this year to learn about the pipeline at previous hearings. Since then, groups of concerned neighbors have made more efforts to speak out about their concerns.
One group last week secured a commitment from Superintendent of Schools Charles Epps to oppose the pipeline because its proposed route is close to several Jersey City schools.
“It is our hope that the board can recognize this as an issue that has serious potential consequences for our children.” – John Thieroff
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Residents are concerned about a potential explosion along the line, like those that have occurred in natural gas facilities in Edison, N.J. in 1994 and more recently, in Connecticut.
The latest hearings were scheduled by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in order to prepare an environmental impact statement for the project.
New group
Downtown Jersey City residents John Thieroff, Kirsten Greene and Dale Hardman – all part of an online group “Jersey City NO Gas Pipeline” – attended Wednesday’s school board meeting to enlist support.
The “Jersey City NO Gas Pipeline” group, at the invitation of board member Carol Lester, was prepared to show a slide presentation about the pipeline as well as video of a mayor of a Texas town talking about the downside of a pipeline running near his community. However, the board told them that they could only speak at the meeting, not do a presentation.
Thieroff told the board that they wanted to point out the hazards that come with a natural gas pipeline. The group found in their research the proposed pipeline route passes by several public schools, including Ferris High School.
“It is our hope that the board can recognize this as an issue that has serious potential consequences for our children,” Thieroff said, “both in terms of the obvious risks of pipelines in that they explode from time to time, as well as airborne carcinogens.”
Epps said the group’s presentation should be given to the board’s facilities committee and school district’s legal counsel.
Lester said the issue was urgent because the public meeting and comment period on the pipeline was coming up soon.
Epps said he would have a letter prepared to be read at the Aug. 4 pipeline meeting stating the school district’s objection to the pipeline.
The risks
The gas from the pipeline would initially come from Pennsylvania to the Tri-State area and would transport up to 800 million cubic feet per day of new natural gas supplies. If built, it could be in service by the end of 2013.
As proposed, the line would cross the Kill Van Kull from Staten Island and enter Bayonne through the Texaco/Chevron site near West First Street and Avenue A. From there it would run under West First Street to the industrial areas on the city’s east side near Lexington Avenue, then to Second Street and Fifth Street and eventually end up at Route 440, at which point it heads north into Jersey City.
From there, it is designed to run through the city’s Greenville and Bergen-Lafayette sections along Caven Point Road, past Liberty State Park and the Liberty Science Center, and eventually into downtown Jersey City under the NJ Turnpike and Jersey City-Hoboken border by 18th Street.
At an earlier information presentation by Spectra, Jersey City residents opposed to the pipeline said it should be rerouted to go directly from Staten Island to Manhattan.
Along with statements taken at the meetings, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will also accept written comments through Aug. 20.
For those wishing to submit written comments, visit www.ferc.gov and follow the link for “documents and filings.” The docket number for this project is PF10-17. For additional information call (202) 502-8258.
Ricardo Kaulessar can be reached at rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com.