I would not pop the corks on the champagne just yet.
Just received this today...
________________________________________________________________________
Public Hearing
South Jersey Gas Pipeline Project
Monday, December 9th at 5:00 pm
Galloway Township Municipal Building
Dear (Contact First Name),
I hope you can attend the public hearing on the South Jersey Gas Pipeline project. In all my years at the Pinelands Preservation Alliance I see this as one of the top five threats to the future of the Pinelands because it would set a precedent that can never be taken back.
If they waive their rules and approve this project then we know that $8 million is what it takes to have your way with the Pinelands Commission. $8 million is nowhere near enough to provide the same protection for the Pinelands as actually enforcing the rules would.
It is so very important that you attend this hearing. It will be packed with supporters of this project and we must be sure that your point of view is heard.
Public Hearing
Monday, December 9th at 5:00 pm
Galloway Township Municipal Building
300 E. Jimmie Leeds Road
Galloway, NJ 08205
The hearing is scheduled to go from 5:00 pm to 11:00 p.m. The earlier you can arrive, the better. You will have to sign up to speak. If people are still waiting to speak at the end of the hearing - the Executive Director Nancy Wittenberg has the authority to extend the public hearing portion to another day.
Talking Points
Your testimony must be relevant in order to be included in the record that will be provided to all the Commissioners before they vote. Here is a summary of some of the major points that I hope will help you.
1. This project violates the Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan, plain and simple. How? Because the CMP prohibits using the Forest Management Area as a transit route for pipelines, unless it is "intended to primarily serve the needs of the Pinelands." N.J.A.C. 7:50-5.23. The Pinelands Commission staff stated that this project doesn't meet that standard - and it is obviously designed to serve people outside the Pinelands.
2. It is not the Commission's job to find a route for the Pipeline or help private companies realize their preferred business plans. The Commission's job is to protect the Pinelands.
3. If they waive their rules and approve this Pipeline project they will be unable to deny any future application for a pipeline in a protected area. And there will be more applications for more pipelines and other infrastructure projects.
4. In order to allow this project the Commission would have to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that would allow them to waive their rules.They can only enter into MOA's with "public agencies" for "public development" (like a municipal building). Since South Jersey Gas is a private company, they are proposing to enter into this MOA with the Board of Public Utilities (BPU).
5. But, the BPU is a regulatory agency who oversees regulated utilities like South Jersey Gas. They bear no financial responsibility for this project. How can the BPU, who regulates South Jersey Gas, enter into an agreement on their behalf? It is South Jersey Gas who will pay for the project, make money on the project, enter into work contracts for the project and assume liability for the project. This is an illegal use of the MOA function.
6. This MOA requires South Jersey Gas to pay $8 million in order to ensure an "equivalent level of protection" for Pinelands resources. $7,250,000 would go into the Pinelands Conservation Fund to buy land along the pipeline route. We question the need to do this since much of this region is in the Forest Management Area and has pretty stringent protections already, if they enforce them. $250,000 would go toward the creation of a Pinelands Education Center at the Commission's own headquarters and the remaining $500,000 would go toward the Commission's education and outreach programs. How is this an "equivalent level of protection?"
7. Pinelands Commissioners are rightly questioning the legality of this deal, because it would waive the rules for a private development, and the state Attorney General's office has refused to give an opinion endorsing its legality.
8. This project has been rushed through - and a project this big with such huge implications requires careful consideration by all involved. The Commissioners have raised numerous fundamental questions about the legality, the necessity and the environmental impacts of this deal - which have not been adequately answered.
Not to mention that the public hearing was posted on the Commission's website the day before Thanksgiving and published in the newspapers with the wrong street address for the Municipal Building until PPA staff pointed it out to them on December 3rd.
Tips for giving public comment
Write your comments down. It will help you stay focused and you can hand them in for the record afterward. If you have to leave before your turn to speak you can make sure your thoughts are at least submitted in writing.
Stay calm and refrain from insulting or degrading language, which will only discount the valid points you made. Don't ruin a great point by dropping f-bombs or other insulting language. Keep in mind that people are more likely to listen to others who present themselves as engaged, reasonable, and well-informed.
Follow the Public Hearing on Twitter/Facebook with live updates from PPA Staff
If you are at the hearing and want to give a live update use #NoSJGas so people can follow what is happening. You can do this on Facebook and Twitter.
More Information:
Looking for information? Here are some links to some great coverage of this issue.
Action News Story
Asbury Park Press Op Ed
Coverage of the Public Hearing Announcement
Visit the Commissions Website to get:
Thank you for all your hard work on behalf of the Pines!
Carleton
Carleton Montgomery
Executive Director
