Hazlet and other Monmouth County’s Bayshore towns are declaring victory after the state soundly rejected permits sought by Transco Williams to build its controversial Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) project.
The billion dollar proposal included the installation of a 23.4 mile natural gas pipeline through Raritan Bay, Lower New York Bay and Atlantic Ocean from Old Bridge to Queens, as well as the construction of a new compressor station in Somerset County.
On April 21, Hazlet Township’s governing body unanimously passed a resolution re-affirming its opposition to the pipeline. The resolution cites “serious concerns related to environmental harm to marine and coastal ecosystems, as well as negative impacts to the safety, health and wellbeing of Bayshore coastal communities.” Hazlet pointed out the Bayshore area had never been granted a public hearing on the proposal.
“We are thrilled by the decision of the state to reject the Williams/NESE pipeline, which did not serve the interests of New Jersey and could have led to serious harm to the ecosystem of the Raritan Bay,” said Hazlet Mayor Mike Glackin.
Friday’s decision by the NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection came hours after a similar one by New York to reject the New York Section of the project. Local advocacy groups like Clean Ocean Action and Holmdel-based CHARGE – Consumers Helping Affect Regulation of Gas & Electric, say they will celebrate the news at a virtual rally scheduled for 1 p.m. on Monday, May 18.
Photo: Hazlet Township officials joined representatives of other Bayshore towns and environmental advocacy groups to "Say No to NESE" at a rally Friday, May 31 at Bayshore Waterfront Park, Middletown.