PLUMSTED — Concerns about a proposed natural gas pipeline recently led to a vote of support from the Township Committee for a package of state Assembly bills that would set guidelines for that type of infrastructure.
During the June 3 committee meeting, officials voiced their support for the bills authored by state Assemblyman Ron Dancer (R-Ocean), who is Plumsted’s business administrator.
Officials said the three bills address issues surrounding the process behind constructing a high-pressure gas pipeline.
“We want to let the Legislature know we want [these bills] to pass,” Mayor Jack Trotta said. “These bills will help ensure that gas companies come to the towns and talk to us. They have to engage the public.”
If the proposed legislation is eventually passed in the Assembly and Senate and signed into law, it would change how gas companies construct transmission pipelines.
According to A-4455, gas companies would be required to use existing right-ofways when constructing a pipeline.
Under the proposed legislation, gas companies would be required to develop a plan to “reduce the impact of the new transmission line upon residential areas to the maximum extent possible.” The plan would be subject to approval by the state Board of Public Utilities (BPU).
“Every time somebody wants to make a new line … now we have another right-ofway somewhere,” Trotta said. “Why can’t we just use what is already there? Stop cutting up the state into right-of-ways for this and right-of-ways for that.”
A second bill, A-4503, requires that any future pipeline be constructed at least 100 feet from any structure for safety reasons.
The bill is timely, as area residents have expressed concern about the potential proximity of the proposed Southern Reliability Link to residential areas.
The Southern Reliability Link is a 30- inch-diameter pipeline proposed by New Jersey Natural Gas that would be constructed between Chesterfield in Burlington County and Manchester Township in Ocean County. The line would traverse portions of Jackson, Plumsted and Upper Freehold Township.
Trotta said some portions of the proposed pipeline could fall within the 100- foot threshold.
“If there was an incident, and we have all seen what happens when a 2-inch pipe in somebody’s house explodes, if this thing explodes within 100 feet of a building, I am sure there will be a lot of problems there,” Trotta said.
A third bill, A-4501, would require the BPU to hold public meetings in towns that would be affected by a pipeline proposal. The board does not have such a requirement or a venue for residents to speak about a specific project.
“People should have their voices heard,” Trotta said.