Assembly Environment Committee Chair John McKeon (D-Essex) today lent his support to Governor Christie’s veto of a proposed deepwater liquefied natural gas operation off the coast of Asbury Park.
McKeon, the lead sponsor of an Assembly resolution (AR-59) opposing the development of liquefied natural gas facilities off the New Jersey coastline, is also scheduled to testify at a federal hearing on the matter Thursday.
“This is a monumental victory for our residents, marine life and all of our natural resources. The potential environmental hazards that could be unleashed by a project of this magnitude would be nothing short of cataclysmic
“New Jersey’s 126 mile shoreline is a jewel that should be protected at any cost. I’m proud that the Governor joined with us today in injecting a measure of common sense into a dangerous proposal.
“This project would also serve as a disincentive to continue our push for investing in renewable energies, a move that would only increase our reliance on foreign energy resources.
“We cannot afford to let a project of this magnitude move forward when it has the potential to affect our ecosystem, our coastal economy, and the very livelihoods and quality of life of our residents.
“I encourage everyone concerned about our environment, particularly residents in our coastal communities, to join me at the upcoming Coast Guard hearings,” said McKeon.
The U.S. Coast Guard public hearings this week will begin at 6:30 pm with an open house informational display from 5- 6 pm at the following locations:
Tuesday, February 8th
New York Beach Channel High School, 100-00 Beach Channel Drive
Rockaway Park, NY 11694-2818
Wednesday, February 9th
Long Branch Middle School, 350 Indiana Ave
Long Branch, NJ 07740
Thursday, February 10th
NJ Convention & Exposition Center, 97 Sunfield Ave
Edison, NJ 08837