The Monmouth County Board of Freeholders has given its support to the residents of Upper Freehold Township as a plan for a high-pressure gas pipeline that would pass through the municipality continues to take shape.
Residents initially brought their concerns about the pipeline to the freeholders’ Jan. 22 meeting.
During a meeting on Feb. 5, the freeholders passed a resolution opposing the proposed route of the Southern Reliability Link (SRL) Transition Pipeline Project and urging the selection of an alternate route.
New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG) has a plan to install a pipeline that is 30 inches in diameter through portions of Upper Freehold as the pipeline is constructed from Burlington County to Ocean County. Indications have been that the pipeline would cross Route 537 and Route 539 in Upper Freehold, both of which are county roads.
Freeholder Lillian Burry said the resolution was passed because of the concerns that had been stated and to show Upper Freehold residents and officials that the pipeline issue has not been concluded. “We are in full support with the township and what is safest for the community,” Burry said. According to the resolution, the pipeline would serve as a second major feed to the southern portion of the utility’s service territory in Ocean and Burlington counties.
The proposed infrastructure is a 28-mile pipeline that would run from Chesterfield Township in Burlington County, through portions of North Hanover Township in Burlington County, Upper Freehold in Monmouth County, Plumsted Township in Ocean County and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst before connecting with the utility’s system in Manchester Township, Ocean County, according to the resolution.
“Alternate routes must be explored by NJNG to minimize impacts on the environment and residential communities and away from residential areas,” the resolution states.
Freeholder Thomas Arnone said he hopes Upper Freehold residents are pleased with the resolution and the support the township is receiving from the county.
“We saw the need, and we were addressed by the utility company and the governing body of Upper Freehold, as well as by Upper Freehold residents. We felt it was our job as Monmouth County officials to protect the residents of Monmouth County and also to protect their needs and their hometown,” Arnone said.
Sean Sweeney, a member of Families for Responsible Pipelines, thanked the freeholders for the resolution and for lending their support.
“Thank you to everyone involved; this is the beginning of the fight. NJNG is a huge company, and we must ensure this is done with minimal disruption. … ,” he said.
Upper Freehold resident Melissa Conk said she appreciated the freeholders’ support, but she remains concerned about the impact the pipeline could have on her family’s business — selling vegetables.
“This proposed plan will affect our business and livelihood negatively since we will have to worry about soil problems with our vegetables. I think it is important to work together with other counties and municipalities that are affected,” Conk said.
Contact Taylor M. Lier at [email protected].