Pinelands Commission To Hold Final Hearing On Controversial South Jersey Pipeline

Here's your last chance to have your say on the controversial South Jersey Gas Pipeline that will run through close to a section of the New Jersey Pinelands.

The Pinelands Commission has reserved the grand ballroom in the Cherry Hill Crowne Plaza Hotel to vote on the future of the South Jersey Gas pipeline on Friday, Feb 24. The meeting starts at 9:30 a.m.

The proposed new pipeline will run approximately 22 miles total underground, from just outside Millville in Maurice River Township, Cumberland County, through Estell Manor to Beesley’s Point in Upper Township, Cape May County, according to the company's website.

The pipeline will add a second transmission line which will reinforce the gas system and provide customers with more reliability. It will also repower the B.L. England plant to reinforce the available power supply and reduce air emissions, according to SNJ.

Both the New Jersey Sierra Club and the Pinelands Preservation Alliance oppose the project, which they say would impact the Pinelands Forest Management Area area and would violate the Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP).

The B.L. England plant primarily serves electricity demand outside the Pinelands, where the great majority of the residences and businesses in the region are located.

If you need transportation, register to ride the Bus For Progress.

The bus will make the following stops on Friday morning.
6 a.m. in Jackson (location to be announced).
6:30 a.m. in Toms River (location to be announced).
7 a.m. in Barnegat (location to be announced).

We are asking for a $20 donation for the round trip travel. Bus Driver members get a 10% discount. Seats will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. Reserve yours now by clicking http://www.busforprogress.org/events/Pinelands-Commission-Vote.

If you can't ride the bus, the Crowne Plaza Hotel is located on 2349 West Marlton Pike, Cherry Hill, NJ. Meet

Image: New Jersey Chapter of the Sierra Club.