(TRENTON) – To protect the Township of Franklin from a potentially dangerous compressor station, Assemblyman Joe Danielsen sponsored legislation urging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to oppose the proposed Northeast Supply Enhancement Project. The measure (AR-164) cleared the Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee Monday, of which Assemblyman Danielsen serves as chairman.
“Since the beginning of the Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company compressor station project, I have been outspoken in demanding alternative solutions,” said Danielsen (D-Middlesex/Somerset). “This project is dangerous in that it will negatively impact our quality of life, health, wellbeing, safety and the integrity of our environment.”
The proposal for Compressor Station 206 would have it placed in a potentially risky active blasting zone inside the Trap Rock Quarry, where a potential accident would put Franklin Township and other local communities at risk of irreversible environmental damage. In addition to constructing a compressor station, a pipeline extension would be placed under the Raritan Bay.
“Our waterways will be in harm’s way of contamination, which would also be of major consequence to Raritan Bay,” said Danielsen. “Contamination will also cause potential irreversible damage to our fisheries, wildlife, sediment buildup, plant erosion and our sensitive waterway ecological systems.”
The resolution now heads to the floor of the Assembly for further consideration.