NESE Will Slice Estuary in Half and Be a Potential Trojan Horse for an LNG Export Facility

Williams Transco’s Northeast Supply Enhancement Project is a proposed natural gas pipeline from Pennsylvania to offshore New York that will be a nightmare for the environment today and for future generations.  As an additional loop to an existing pipeline, the project would supposedly bring only an “incremental” amount natural gas to Long Island. from the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) reviewed by COA, it is clear that the pipeline will result in:

• Ripping-up of over almost 24 miles of bay, estuary, and ocean habitat. 

• Re-suspension of over 800,000 tons of sediments, which will re-contaminate the estuary.

• Pumping of thousands of cubic yards of unidentified drilling fluids and cuttings into the bay.

• More hydro-fracking in the nearby Utica and Marcellus Shale regions.

If that’s not bad enough, the DEIS:

•  Fails to document a need for the “incremental” increase of natural gas.

• Fails to fairly review alternatives including energy efficiency, conservation or renewables.

• Includes loopy logic that states alternatives are not viable because they will not meet the project’s purpose of supplying natural gas to NY. 

It is also very troubling that it has the potential to serve as a conduit for an offshore Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facility.  Remember, the natural gas industry tried to tie a LNG port to this pipeline system once before with Port Ambrose.  NESE would double the pipeline capacity in the ocean, and with overseas gas prices more than double US prices that would be too tempting

for greedy fossil fuel companies to ignore.  Call Governor Murphy (609)292-6000 or Cuomo (518)474-8390 and tell them to deny all permits that would enable this pipeline!