JERSEY CITY – Spectra Energy is questioning a statement released last week by the office of Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy.
Late in the day on Friday, Oct. 12, Healy’s office issued a press release stating that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) was going to reconsider the city’s legal motion on the natural gas pipeline that Spectra is building through Jersey City. The city has long opposed the pipeline’s current route, which will be built close to several residential neighborhoods, schools, Jersey City Medical Center, and transit infrastructure.
After FERC gave the Texas-based Spectra Energy approval in May to build the pipeline, the city filed an appeal asking the federal agency to reconsider its decision. While it is extremely rare for FERC to reconsider such appeals, last Friday, Healy’s office announced that the city had received word that FERC would indeed take another look at the city’s concerns regarding the pipeline project.
The agency was scheduled to consider the matter at a meeting of FERC commissioners set for Thursday, Oct., 18, according to the press release issued by Healy’s office.
But a spokeswoman for Spectra called into question whether the agency will consider the city’s concerns.
“FERC typically issues a Sunshine Act Meeting Notice to identify the matters the commissioners intend to take up at this meeting,” said Spectra spokeswoman Marylee Hanley. “The [pipeline] project is on the agenda. There is no more specific information available than that. If Mayor Healy advises he has more specific information, he should be able to provide that.”
As of Monday morning, city spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill had not responded to and e-mail sent by the Reporter Saturday evening seeking clarification. The October 12 press release was still posted to the city web site at of this morning. – E. Assata Wright