Families for Responsible Pipelines is a group of Upper Freehold Township residents who are ready to have their voices heard regarding the possible installation of high-pressure gas lines in the municipality.
A discussion about a plan under consideration by New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG) to run high-pressure gas lines through the township took place during the Dec. 4 meeting of the Township Committee.
The group, which now consists of about 100 people, according to resident John Inzilla, was created shortly after residents began seeing surveyors working in the neighborhoods.
According to preliminary maps that were presented to the governing body at the Dec. 4 meeting, the gas company would install lines from its service areas west and south of Upper Freehold.
“After we observed those surveyors, we started taking questions from local residents, and our neighborhood got together and expanded through Facebook and social networking. We started to gain more local communication, and I even held a meeting at my home recently to bring everyone together on the issue,” said Inzilla, who lives in the Cream Ridge section of the township.
According to Michael Kinney, a senior communications specialist at New Jersey Resources, which is the parent company of NJNG, these high-pressure gas lines are part of the Southern Reliability Link, which is the second major feed from an interstate pipeline system.
The system connects to a major interstate system that extends through Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties.
Families for Responsible Pipelines is preparing to notify residents who may be affected by the installation of the gas lines, according to Inzilla.
In an attempt to raise awareness about the pipeline, resident Sean Sweeney called in to WKXW-FM’s “Ask the Governor” program last week and spoke with Gov. Chris Christie.
In response to Sweeney’s comments, Christie said, “I don’t have particular information on the [pipeline] you are talking about, but we can get back to you on that. In general, if we want to have more clean and affordable energy, we have to build pipelines and we are all going to have to get used to it. I am a fan of pipelines, and our Department of Environmental Protection will look at what is being done and make sure it is the safest way.”
Sweeney said the response he received from Christie was vague and did not fully answer the question at hand.
“He did say he would get back to me, and I am not sure if he will, but he turned the conversation to pipelines being installed around the country and he looked more at the bigger picture. I called in to generate awareness of what is happening in the local community,” Sweeney said.
The township’s response to the issue has been the best that can be done up to this point, according to Sweeney. “To be honest, it was as much news to [the members of the governing body] as it was for us, and they were blindsided by it. I think more information needs to be gained since this is still in the preliminary stages,” Sweeney said.
The mission of Families for Responsible Pipelines is to encourage residents to come together and help to determine what the safest route for the pipeline would be, according to Inzilla.
“We are all for clean energy and natural gas, too, but we are trying to say that common sense must prevail, and we must look further at the expense of families along the route where these pipelines might be installed and what effect it will have on them,” Inzilla said.
The Jan. 6 Township Committee meeting is expected to include a public hearing with representatives of NJNG.
“Upper Freehold consists of a lot of farmland, and I as well as the group feel that NJNG is looking at the cheapest route rather than what is the safest and what will have less impact on the community,” Sweeney said.
For more information visit the website www.responsiblepipeline.com.