EDISON — Residents and members of an environmental group voiced opposition to a proposed petroleum pipeline, and asked council members to do the same during a recent council meeting.
Along with members of the public, representatives of the Sierra Club petitioned the Township Council at its Sept. 9 meeting to join other government entities in opposing the proposed Pilgrim Pipeline, which would carry petroleum products including gasoline, diesel, heating oil, and jet and aviation fuel between Albany, N.Y., and Linden, taking a route that touches part of Edison, along with Woodbridge and Metuchen.
“Despite a growing resistance, the Pilgrim Pipeline is steamrolling ahead,” said Toni Granato of the Sierra Club. “Edison at this point is the only town along the proposed route that has not passed a resolution against the project.”
Granato urged the council to publicly oppose the project. She said PSE&G had denied Pilgrim Pathway Holdings LLC the right-ofway use late last year, but that did not necessarily end the project — she pointed out that Pilgrim Pathway has alternatives, such as rerouting the pipeline and going to court.
As such, she said the club had developed resolutions in the past for consideration by governing bodies, and had a new one for the council’s review.
The Sierra Club’s concerns include the proposed project’s proximity to schools, parks, hospitals, businesses, recreational spaces and hazardous areas, Granato said.
“We’re talking about a highly flammable and toxic crude oil pipeline going right through New Jersey towns,” she added.
Granato said more than 30 towns, as well as four county freeholder boards and both houses of the state Legislature have opposed the project. The neighboring towns of Woodbridge, Cranford, Linden, Clark and Rahway all oppose it, Granato added.
“We need Edison to join this strong united front saying that this project is dangerous and it shouldn’t be in our communities,” she said.
According to Granato, the project is something the late Jane Tousman — who had been a N.J. Sierra Club board member, Edison council member and council president — would have opposed.
“If she were still here with us, I believe she would be here trying to urge the council to oppose this pipeline publicly,” Granato said of the late environmental champion.
Following Granato’s comments, Councilman Michael Lombardi said he had headed up a committee in the past to look into the issue, but was under the impression that the project was dead. Based upon this new information, however, he said he would look back into it.
Residents who spoke on the issue brought up concerns, such as property values and public safety.
“I please ask you to pass this resolution to oppose the Pilgrim Pipeline for the safety of the residents of Edison,” said Edison resident and Sierra Club member Maureen Carson.
Fellow resident Adele Pudner echoed her concerns.
“Our safety and our children’s safety is threatened by this pipeline, and we must do everything we can to deny this destructive pipeline,” she said.