Kim Robinson, Hopewell Township
Ebola. An insidious virus that is spreading. Some are calling it a plague, and the world is worried. Here in Hopewell Township, and throughout New Jersey, we have a plague of our own, and we should all be worried.
No, I speak not of a biological virus, but of a plague just as insidious — natural gas pipelines. Like Ebola, pipeline companies attack with little warning. By the time a town realizes it’s in real trouble, the companies have established a stronghold. Yes, when PennEast came to Hopewell Township last week "to begin the discussion about the very long process" (of clear-cutting a 120-foot-wide swath through our entire township to bury what amounts to a 105-mile-long land mine), it already had attacked many vital organs — supply contracts were signed, extensive research performed, and a route and details on construction of that route planned. Notifying property owners is the last thing they do. They try for a quick kill, and hope for silent resignation.
But here in Hopewell Township, while it may be quiet at night, we don’t take much silently, especially when a private company seeks to destroy everything we have worked to preserve — our forests, our farmlands, our open spaces, our waterways, our ecosystems, our property values, and our peace of mind that our children won’t be blown to pieces while playing in the yard.
This new virus, known as PennEast 30-36 may have infected us, but we will fight. We must. If we don’t, we will be left scarred and weakened, making us more vulnerable to future attacks, until Hopewell Township bears no resemblance to the town we live in today. (One of the most sickening symptoms of PennEast 30-36 is its ability to invoke eminent domain, leaving property owner rights greatly weakened.)
What can we do to battle this disease? First and foremost, starve it. Do not give it anything that will make it stronger. If your property lies in the 400-foot-wide "study area," do not cooperate with PennEast’s land agents. Send a certified letter to PennEast denying (or rescinding) access to your property for surveying. Post your property with No Trespassing signs that have your (owner’s) name and address on them. If an agent disregards the signs and comes onto your property, tell him/her to leave, and call the police. Do not sign anything.
Be informed and active. We must fight this infection with everything at our disposal. If you have expertise in an area, offer it. If you can attend meetings, attend them. If you can write letters to the media, write them. If you have contacts in higher political office, or in other organizations that can help, contact them. Even if all you can do is talk to a few neighbors, talk to them. We can all do something. And every resident who has access to a computer should file with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as an intervenor. FERC must approve this project, and this is an easy and free way for citizens to make their arguments known as to why the project should be denied.
To keep current on the insidious PennEast 30-36, please follow the FaceBook pages STOP PennEast Pipeline and Stop the PennEast Pipeline, and visit the website, bit.ly/stoppenneast. On these sites, you can find meeting notices, news articles, research, forms and instructions. You can also connect with residents of the other towns that have been infected.
To be added to the Hopewell Township email list for updates, email [email protected]. Together we will fight this plague. And together we will win.
