Pinelands Commission Okays Second Controversial Pipeline In A Split Vote

TRENTON - For the second time this year, the New Jersey Pinelands Commission has approved the construction of a natural gas pipeline that will run through sections of the Pinelands Preservation Area.

Commission members voted 8 to 4 today to approve the 30-mile Southern Reliability pipeline that will cross the Pinelands through the Joint Base McGuire-Dix- Lakehurst, according to a report in app.com.

The hearing was held at the War Memorial Theater in Trenton to accommodate a large crowd, but in the end the extra room wasn't needed.

New Jersey Natural Gas has claimed the pipeline will provide a backup source of natural gas to more than 1 million people in Burlington, Monmouth and Ocean counties.

Most of the pipeline will be buried underneath existing roads, except for a 200-foot swath of forest near Lakehurst, the report states.

Former Ocean County administrator Alan W. Avery - who was appointed by the Ocean County Board of Chose Freeholders -voted yes, as did Lacey Township Committeeman Gary Quinn who was appointed by Gov. Chris Christie. .

Commission members in late February approved the development of another pipeline for South Jersey Gas and the B.L. England power plant that would run through 15 miles of protected forest.

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Photo: by Patricia A. Miller