FRANKLIN TWP. – U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-12th), along with members of state and local governments, sent a letter to Cheryl A. LaFleur, acting chairperson of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, to oppose the Williams Transco’s Northeast Supply Enhancement project, which includes a proposed compressor station in the township.
In December, Williams Company, which owns the Transco pipeline, decided on a 52-acre tract that is located approximately one mile south of the intersection of State Highway 27 and County Route 518 for the site of its 32,000-horsepower gas compressor station. The land is currently owned by Trap Rock Industries.
The company is expected to submit a formal application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission this spring.
“This letter echoes the concern this community has continuously expressed to its federal, state and local elected officials as well as private sector partners,” Watson Coleman said in a news release. “Williams has not done enough to ensure the community that these grievances are taken seriously nor done their due diligence to address the uncertainty of health and safety impacts in the surrounding communities.
“The bipartisan group of lawmakers that signed this letter serves only to reinforce the level of community concern about this poorly planned proposal and project.”
Franklin Mayor Phil Kramer co-signed the letter. Township residents have previously opposed the project.
“Our No. 1 concern is public safety,” said Kramer. “In that part of Franklin, the water pipes put in decades ago were put in wrong. Homeowners can’t take a shower on the second floor with adequate water pressure.
“If a major fire were to spread in that part of town, we would have a problem protecting homes. We just don’t have an adequate water supply in that area. I’ve been told by fire experts that if we had a major fire there, it would take two hours to set up an adequate water supply to fight the fire.”
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The Northeast Supply Enhancement Project would add 35 miles to the existing Transco pipeline system, including a 22-mile pipeline under the Raritan Bay from Old Bridge to Brooklyn, 3.5 miles of pipeline through Middlesex County and 10 miles of pipeline in Lancaster County in Pennsylvania.
In her letter, Watson Coleman said the proposed site of the compressor station has been historically problematic to the health and safety of residents in the surrounding area because of the noise, pollution and debris.
Additionally, local first-responders have limited access to the area and restricted fire safety resources in the event of a problem or accident at the substation.
Last year, Watson Coleman introduced nationwide legislation entitled the SAFER Pipelines Act. The bill would reform the gas pipeline approval process undertaken by FERC in order to ensure a comprehensive analysis that considers the cumulative impact of gas pipeline projects and better assesses need for new pipelines.
On Tuesday, Kramer said the township’s Board of Health will meet to vote on a resolution to send to FERC opposing the project.
“I think we need to have a national conversation about our energy infrastructure,” said Kramer. “Does the country need this type of infrastructure when it appears we’re moving in the direction of alternative sources of energy and away from fossil fuel?
“If we put in these compressor stations, what’s going to happen 10 or 15 years from now when we don’t need them? Who is going to maintain them and maintain the land because no one will be using the fuels anymore?”
Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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