Pinelands Commission rejects controversial gas pipeline

**More related news stories added at 2:20 p.m.**
**Related news stories added at 2:20 p.m.**

On a 7-7 vote this morning, the New Jersey Pinelands Commission rejected a staff-recommended natural gas pipeline that had the support of Gov. Chris Christie’s
Department of Environmental Protection and the state’s Board of Public Utilities.

Four previous governors opposed the proposal under which the South Jersey Gas Company would pay the Commission $8 million for environmental projects in return for an exemption to a long-standing ban on new transmission pipelines through the forest area, a zone where most development is prohibited.

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Many will speculate whether the result would have been different had the vote come prior to the so-called "Bridgegate" political scandal that has engulfed the Governor, forcing him to fire a key member of his inner circle and accept the resignations of two high-level appointees at the Port Authority of NY/NJ.

What do you think? Let us know in the comment box below.

NOTE: We’ll be updating this post throughout the day with print and video stories on the vote.


Related environmental news stories:
Panel Rejects NJ Pinelands Natural Gas Pipeline – ABC News 
Pinelands pipeline plan rejected – Asbury Park Press 
Fighting a Pipeline, but Feeling and Fearing Christie’s Influence
Critics link bridge scandal to Pinelands gas pipe vote – Asbury Park Press 
Bridget Anne Kelly: The aide at the center of the storm
Pinelands pipeline rejection a rare win for N.J. environmentalists 
Rachel Maddow Presents New Chris Christie Bridge Scandal Theory 

Recent posts:
NJ scandal: Christie opens up; bridge official shuts down 
Capitol Hill Calendar: January 9-10, 2014
Buchanan Ingersoll talking merger with Florida law firm 
NJ enviros get their day in court over RGGI withdrawal   
Environmental attorney Todd Terhune gains promotion   
Hundreds of water complaints filed in fracking states 


Pinelands Commission rejects controversial gas pipeline Read More »

NJ scandal: Christie opens up; bridge official shuts down

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (The Economist)

In one of the most galvanizing media days in New Jersey since then Governor Jim McGreevey came out of the closet, current Gov. Chris Christie today fired a chief staffer and apologized to the public at a marathon press conference minutes before a key figure in the George Washington Bridge political-revenge saga took the Fifth on every question put to him by a legislative panel other than is your name David Wildstein.

Only in New Jersey.

Today’s edition of our daily newsletter, EnviroPolitics, captures it all with 16 news stories, videos, commentaries and editorials. Download your free copy here.

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NJ scandal: Christie opens up; bridge official shuts down Read More »

Capitol Hill Calendar: January 9-10, 2014

Capitol_Hill

 
Hearings on Energy and Environment Issues and Legislation

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2014


HOUSE ENERGY AND COMMERCE
Subcommittee on Health
10:00 a.m. 2123 Rayburn
Hearing entitled "The Extenders Policies: What Are They and How Should They Continue Under a Permanent SGR Repeal Landscape?"

HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES
10:00 a.m. 1324 Longworth
Hearing entitled "Obama Administration’s War on Coal: The Recent Report by the Office of the Inspector General"


FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2014


HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES
Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
9:30 a.m. 1324 Longworth 202-225-9297
Hearing entitled "The Science behind Discovery: Seismic Exploration and the Future of the Atlantic OCS", 9:30 a.m., 1324 Longworth.







Capitol Hill Calendar: January 9-10, 2014 Read More »

Buchanan Ingersoll talking merger with Florida law firm

Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, a Pittsburgh-based law firm with more than 80 lawyers in Philadelphia and offices in 15 locations including Harrisburg, Pa., Newark and Princeton, NJ and Wilmington DE, is in merger talks with Tampa, Florida’s Fowler White Boggs, according to reports in the Philadelphia Business Journal and the Tampa Bay Business Journal.

Buchanan Ingersoll provides legal services to a wide variety of industries, including chemicals, coal, energy and real estate. The firm already has Florida locations in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Tampa. Fowler White has almost 100 lawyers in five Florida sites, so the combined firm would have 550 lawyers.
"We have had inquiries from a number of firms wishing to expand into Florida recently," Fowler White chair and CEO Rhea Law told the Tampa Bay Business Journal. "Our discussions with Buchanan have pointed out a number of similarities between our firms – our reputation, commitment to clients, culture as well as the desire to grow in Florida."
There’s no definitive agreement, she said.

Buchanan Ingersoll talking merger with Florida law firm Read More »

NJ enviros get their day in court over RGGI withdrawal


New Jersey Superior Court’s Appellate Division will hear arguments tomorrow morning in Trenton on whether
the Christie Administration illegally repealed the rules implementing the
Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a pioneering regional agreement to
limit carbon pollution from power plants. 

The
program was developed by New Jersey and nine other northeastern states in 2005
and first implemented in 2009. In May 2011, Gov. Christie unilaterally
withdrew New Jersey from the program–the only state to leave the regional
collaboration. 


Environment New Jersey and the Natural Resources Defense Council filed the lawsuit 20 months ago, claiming that the Christie Administration never gave the public an official
opportunity to voice their opinion on the repeal of the rules implementing the
landmark program.
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The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI, is a cap-and-trade program adopted by nine Eastern states in which power companies must purchase credits through public auctions for every ton of carbon their plants emit while generating electricity. Revenue from the sale of credits goes to the states to invest in renewable energy programs. 

The January 8 hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. in the 5th Floor Appellate
Court Chambers of the Hughes Justice Complex in Trenton.
Related environmental news story:
Can climate hawks beat Chris Christie to let New Jersey rejoin RGGI?

Recent posts: 

Hundreds of water complaints filed in fracking states


NJ enviros get their day in court over RGGI withdrawal Read More »

Environmental attorney Todd Terhune gains promotion

Todd W. Terhune
The Wolff and Samson law firm has announced that Todd W. Terhune has become a Member of the Firm.

Terhune practices in the
firm’s Environmental and Real Estate, Development and Land Use Groups where he advises clients on a wide range of environmental transactional and regulatory
compliance matters that arise in connection with real estate and business transactions,
or as a result of regulatory action. 

Specifically, Todd’s
practice focuses on brownfield development projects, environmental due
diligence, site remediation, ISRA compliance and environmental permitting. He
appears regularly before the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. 


Prior to becoming an attorney, Todd was an environmental engineering consultant and focused on environmental due diligence, soil and groundwater contamination assessment, environmental permitting, and landfill gas assessment and control. Todd’s technical background has proven to be an added asset when negotiating technically-driven legal issues with environmental consultants, LSRP’s, regulators and adversaries. During law school, Todd served as a law clerk to the USEPA.
Wolff and Samson, a 120-member firm, has its headquarters in West Orange, NJ and also has offices in Trenton and New York City
Recent posts: 

Hundreds of water complaints filed in fracking states

Environmental attorney Todd Terhune gains promotion Read More »