Win for our Waterways: PennEast Pipeline canceled

Pipeline was slated to go through natural resources in our Delaware Watershed

Another one bites the dust and the watershed can celebrate.

The PennEast Pipeline was officially canceled last week. The 120-mile long, 36-inch diameter pipeline was planned to transport natural gas (via fracking) from Luzerne County, Pennsylvania to Mercer County, New Jersey. PennEast received initial permits from FERC, but did not receive others including water quality certifications.

Maya van Rossum, the Delaware Riverkeeper, leader of the Delaware Riverkeeper Network celebrated the news. “Organizations like the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Berks Gas Truth, Environment NJ, NJ Sierra, and Clean Water Action, have been partnering with frontline organizations, community leaders, property owners, and environmental advocates literally since day one,” said Van Rossum. “Since the project was announced People Against the Pipeline community groups have been popping up all along the over 100-mile-long line, all coordinating and working together. We have advocated, litigated, conducted critical scientific ground-truthing, and been clear throughout that we would accept nothing short of cancellation! 

The pipeline would have crossed 88 waterways, wetlands, parks including Hickory Run State Park, Beltzville Lake, and Weiser State Forest, and conservation easements according to the Clean Air Council.

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