Christie Fails to Muscle Gas Pipeline Through NJ's Protected Forests

[DonViejo]

On a tie vote of 7-7, Pinelands commissioners turned down a 22-mile natural gas pipeline the Christie administration supported with strong-arm tactics.

By John H. Cushman Jr., InsideClimate News Jan 10, 2014

The George Washington Bridge and the Pinelands are at opposite ends of New Jersey – almost in different universes. One is a double-decker of steel and cable, groaning with bumper-to-bumper traffic. The other is a delicate, protected ecosystem, the intersection of pristine aquifers and seven counties of conifers.

One is the bailiwick of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and the other is the fief of the New Jersey Pinelands Commission. Both these agencies are under the influence of Governor Chris Christie, who has recently come under fire for his strong-arm political style.

As it turned out, the 15-member Pinelands Commission was the agency more willing to stand up to the Christie administration. After a hard-fought battle, the sharply divided commission overruled its own staff and refused to give a green light to a 22-mile natural gas pipeline the administration supported. The line would cross a short stretch of protected forest to carry natural gas to a BL England power plant that has been ordered to stop using coal or shut down.

Many residents and environmental advocates opposed the pipeline – as did four former governors from both parties.

The commissioners who voted against the pipeline may have been influenced by what happened at the bridge, where the governor's senior staff apparently persuaded the Port Authority to deliberately tie up traffic in a bizarre exercise of political muscle. That incident has become a cause celebre, with Christie forced to deny that he is a bully.

more
http://insideclimatenews.org/content/christie-fails-muscle-gas-pipeline-through-njs-protected-forests

[DURHAM D]

1. Thanks for posting.

Once again we see that where there is a pipeline there is corruption and/or undue influence.
Cheers for the Pinelands Commission.

I have noticed that you are very interested in the NJ stories. Have you seen American Hustle? The movie is excellent and a much richer experience because of the current scandal.

[DonViejo]

4. No, I haven't seen the movie...

I run a "news clipping service" for some columnists, book authors, reporters, blogs and a couple of TV commentators. I copy and paste news articles/opinion pieces from magazines, newspapers, blogs, etc., send them to my mailing list and post articles here that I think will be of interest to DU'ers. Christie is the big news this week so, there are a lot of articles about him. Thanks for your interest, much appreciated!

[freshwest]

2. Good news.

[Cha]

3. Yay! One for the Environment

"The commissioners who voted against the pipeline may have been influenced by what happened at the bridge, where the governor's senior staff apparently persuaded the Port Authority to deliberately tie up traffic in a bizarre exercise of political muscle. That incident has become a cause celebre, with Christie forced to deny that he is a bully."

What a riot..forced to lie.. I don't think he strained any muscles.

[DonViejo]

5. "What a riot..forced to lie.. "

LOL. Good point Cha! You hit the nail on the head; the "victim" was forced to lie.

[Cha]

6. :)

[enough]

7. Very interesting NJ environmental politics in that article.

snip from the article>

In any event, on a tie vote of 7-7, Pinelands commissioners on Friday turned down a proposed memorandum of understanding with utility regulators that would have let the pipeline through in exchange for an $8 million payment toward a conservation fund. Eight yes votes were needed to approve the project. South Jersey Gas can come back with another proposal, so the fight may not be over.

The vote was a rare and narrow victory by environmentalists over a governor who they say has dealt harshly with their favored causes, especially by making it easy for regulated industries to get waivers from environmental rules.

According to opponents, the fact that the vote over the pipeline was tied was a direct result of brass-knuckle New Jersey politics.

One of the commissioners, an environmental law professor at Columbia University, recused himself after he was told in December that the Christie administration objected to his working on the board of an environmental law clinic that had made a minor procedural request involving hearings on the pipeline.

snip>
more at link in OP

[Beacool]

8. Good!!!

One positive thing that will come of "Bridgegate" is that people will no longer fear Christie's bullying ways. If he steps too far out of line, any NJ official can point the finger at him and claim that he's running roughshod over them.

[mindwalker_i]

9. If Christie farts in the woods...

[davidpdx]

10. Wait, there are forests in New Jersey

I didn't know the east coast had those.

[yortsed snacilbuper]

11. (question) Do you know what New Jerseys state flower is?

(answer) A fifty five gallon drum!