To no one’s surprise, the Pinelands pipeline is back in play



The much debated and twice-rejected South Jersey Gas proposal to build a natural gas pipeline through the Pinelands is back in the news.

As before, South Jersey Gas is seeking to construct the pipeline so that the coal-dependent B.L.England power plant can convert to natural-gas fueled turbines that will generate cleaner energy and avoid an environmental regulation shutdown.

“This project is being built primarily to benefit the Pinelands,” says South Jersey Gas’s VP Bob Fatzinger with a straight face. (See the video).

Liar, liar pants on fire is basically the response from the Sierra Club’s Jeff Tittel and Pinelands Alliance‘s Jaclyn Rhoads.

There is no surprise that the proposal is being revived. The company and its political backers, including Governor Chris Christie, his Department of Environmental Protection, and local state Senator Jeff Van Drew, who has close ties to local utility workers, all pushed mightily to get Bob Barr appointed as a new member on the Pinelands Commission so he could provide the crucial ‘yes’ vote to break a 7-7 deadlock.

The only plot twist so far this round is that Barr proclaims that he will not play a rubber stamp role. Perhaps for that reason, pipeline advocates now are taking the position that a vote of the commission is not necessary. The Pinelands plan, they contend, already allows for approval since the pipeline will run along existing roadways, will not impact forests, and won’t require the filling of wetlands.

In the video above, NJTV News’ Brenda Flanagan introduces the latest sequel in this multi-season, eco-drama. Feel free to supply your own fuel in the comment box below.

    

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Environmental attorney sounds off on smelly stormwater

“Rather quietly, there’s a major storm brewing over stormwater — how to regulate it, who does the regulating and on what criteria” 
potter
R. William Potter – Amanda Brown photo

Writing in NJ Spotlight today,veteran New Jersey environmental attorney R. William Potter of the Princeton-based law firm Potter and Dickson, provides his opinion on why stormwater runoff continues to add to New Jersey’s highly polluted waterways and how the challenge of correcting the problem falls primarily to local zoning boards, followed by the courts and the state Department of Environmental Protection. Credit: Amanda Brown

If that description sounds too dry, the title of Mr. Potter’s essay might activate your attention: If it looks and smells like sewage, it  could be stormwater.    


Speaking of opinions, yours may differ. If you are a land-use attorney or other expert with another point of view, we would consider your submission as an Op-Ed. Send to: Editor@EnviroPolitics.com with information on who you are and who you represent on the issue.




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Will Rutgers research torment dolphins?

On its blog today, Clean Ocean Action writes:


As soon as June 1st, Rutgers University intends to begin a seismic study approximately 15 miles off of the coast of Long Beach Island, New Jersey. The study has been approved by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), which has permitted the “takings” of 18,457 marine mammals— 26 times more mammals than originally proposed — during the 30-day research period so long as these incidents are classified as “Level B Harassment” under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. However, there is no scientific way to observe and assess all of the physical and physiological damage done to the populations of marine mammals to ensure that these damages do not surpass Level B Harassment into Level A Harassment.


The organization is urging its friends to call on Rutgers President Robert Barchi to cancel the study. What do you think? Let us know in the comment box below.

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New recycling system for old paint passes NJ Senate

Legislation designed to keep out of landfills those partially full cans of latex and oil paint piling up in your basement or garage, passed the New Jersey Senate yesterday on a 27-6 vote and now heads to the Assembly Commerce Committee. 



S-1420, sponsored by Senator Jim Beach (D-Burlington/Camden) is modeled on legislation developed by the paint industry as a proactive solution to the potential problem of improperly discarded paint seeping through the ground into water supplies. 


To avoid this, PaintCare, a nonprofit creation of the paint industry’s D.C.-based American Coatings Association, has created a program, already operating in eight states, that provides free collection of the old paint from dealers and public recycling programs. The paint can be recycled into new paint, or other products such as non-structural concrete, asphalt and even landscaping stones.


The legislation is supported by a number of New Jersey environmental organizations, including the Sierra Club, the New Jersey Association of Household Hazardous Waste Coordinators and the Association of New Jersey Recyclers (ANJR). 


Disclosure: Our sister company, Brill Public Affairs, provides consulting services to ANJR.,


The bill is opposed by the New Jersey Retail Merchants Association.  

Related news story: Paint recycling bill gets NJ Senate approval

NJ Ag, energy, environment bills posted for votes – May 11 




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Cindy Dunn nomination to lead PA-DCNR advances

Cindy Adams Dunn – Frank Brill photo
Despite some legislators’ concerns about positions she took as CEO of the environmental organization, PennFuture, the nomination of acting Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn to head the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources was approved on Wednesday by the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy committee.
Ms. Dunn said she will use her independent judgment in her new role and be responsive to the interests of all citizens.

Her nomination still must be considered by the full Senate.

Watch our video interview with Ms. Dunn when she was at PennFuture.
Read coverage of the nomination hearing by the Post-Gazette and PA Environment Digest 

Read Wallace McKelvey’s Patriot News interview with Dunn on fracking in state forests


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NJ ag, energy, environment bills posted for votes – May 14

A total of eleven
agriculture, energy and environment bills will be up for votes in a committee and on the Assembly floor in Trenton on Thursday, May 14, 2015.


Here’s the lineup:


SENATE ECONOMIC GROWTH – 10:30 AM
Committee Room 1, 1st Floor, State House Annex, Trenton, NJ

A-1294  Dancer, R.S. (R-12); Space, P. (R-24);
Andrzejczak, B. (D-1)
Extends Right to Farm Act protections to commercial
beekeepers, with some restrictions.  Related Bill: S-1328
A-1295  Dancer, R.S. (R-12); Space, P. (R-24);
Andrzejczak, B. (D-1)
Establishes exclusive State regulatory authority over
apiary activities and allows for delegation of monitoring and enforcement
authority to municipalities.
Related Bill: S-1975
    
A-1296  Dancer, R.S. (R-12); Space, P. (R-24);
Caride, M. (D-36)
Establishes penalty for destruction of man-made native
bee hive.
    
S-1328  Van Drew, J. (D-1); Oroho, S.V. (R-24)
Extends Right to Farm Act protections to commercial
beekeepers, with some restrictions. Related Bill: A-1294
S-1975  Van Drew, J. (D-1); Oroho, S.V. (R-24)
Establishes exclusive State regulatory authority over
apiary activities and allows for delegation of monitoring and enforcement
authority to municipalities.
Related Bill: A-1295
S-2302  Van Drew, J. (D-1)
Establishes penalty for destruction of man-made native
bee hive.
Related Bill: A-1296
 _______________________________________________________________

ASSEMBLY VOTING SESSION – 1 PM
A-3169  Greenwald, L.D. (D-6); Vainieri Huttle, V.
(D-37); Webber, J. (R-26)
Requires DEP to submit annual financial report on
status of certain fund balances.
A-3849  DeAngelo, W.P. (D-14); Eustace, T. (D-38);
Mazzeo, V. (D-2)
Requires BPU to provide consumer information on
third-party electric power and gas supplier pricing and services.  Related Bill: S-2466
    
 A-3850  DeAngelo, W.P. (D-14); Eustace, T. (D-38);
Mazzeo, V. (D-2)
Requires BPU to establish procedures allowing electric
power and gas supplier customers to switch energy suppliers.  Related Bill: S-2467
     
A-3851  DeAngelo, W.P. (D-14); Eustace, T. (D-38);
Mazzeo, V. (D-2)
Imposes contract standards between customers and
third-party electric power and gas suppliers.  Related Bill: S-2468
     
A-4258  Eustace, T. (D-38); Mazzeo, V. (D-2)
Clarifies liability for discharges of hazardous
substances from drilling platforms that enter NJ waters.   Related Bill: S-2172
   
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