Stop North East Supply Enhancement (NESE)

Big Victory! NJ DEP Denies NESE Pipeline Permits

The NJ DEP denied the Wetland and 401 Water Quality permit for the Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) project, whose plans included about 23 miles (37 km) of submarine pipeline off Raritan Bay and a huge compressor station in Franklin township in New Jersey. The department cited concerns over water quality and aquatic life.

New Jersey’s decision, which followed New York’s in the form of a 10-page letter, rejected all aspects of the NESE project in the Garden State. The DEP explained that it denied the permits primarily because Williams could not prove that the project was needed to meet demand in New York.

Among other things, in conclusion, NJDEP noted that “Based on the above analysis, Transco has failed to demonstrate that the proposed NESE Project would comply with the Freshwater Wetland Protection Act Rules at N.J.A.C 7:7A. The denial of the permit under these rules eliminates the project. Therefore, the NESE Project permit application, including for a Freshwater Wetlands Individual Permit, Flood Hazard Area Individual Permit, Waterfront Development In-Water Individual Permit, Water Quality Certificate, Waterfront Development Upland Individual Permit, Coastal Wetland Individual Permit and Water Quality Certificate, is hereby denied. If you or anyone is aggrieved by this permit decision, an administrative appeal may be filed in accordance with the Coastal Zone Management Rules at N.J.A.C. 7:7-28, Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act Rules at N.J.A.C. 7:7A-21, and the Flood Hazard Control Act Rules at N.J.A.C. 7:13-23. Any interested person who considers himself or herself aggrieved by this permit decision may request a hearing within 30 days after notice of the decision is published in the DEP Bulletin by writing to: New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection” .