Opponents plan to protest the two state hearings over worries of environmental and safety impacts of the pipeline.
TRENTON -- The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will hold the first of two public hearings in New Jersey on Tuesday concerning the agency's draft environmental impact statement for the PennEast pipeline.
Homeowners, activists and non-governmental organizations plan to be in attendance at the hearings in Hunterdon and Mercer counties to voice concerns over environmental and safety impacts of the pipeline.
One glaring issue for critics is that they don't know what environmental issues to be concerned with, because there isn't enough information to in the draft statement to indicate what the impacts could be.
"This document has more holes in it than swiss cheese," said Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. "How can the public respond when the document has 79 instances where lack of or missing information is cited?"
The statement cites numerous instances where there are admitted gaps in environmental surveillance, leaving those concerned about the project to comment on studies that have not yet taken place, critics say.
"Over 70 percent of (New Jersey) landowners have denied PennEast survey access and said 'No' to the pipeline," Tittel said. "Without this survey access they have not gained enough data for a DEIS."
"Since they don't have enough information on the pipeline's potential impacts to the environment and safety concerns, this cannot be considered a proper analysis," he said.
Tittel says the data deficiencies exist in areas like waterways, wetlands, forests, threaten endangered species habitats and historic sites.
Opponents take issue with environmental report
"PennEast has provided FERC, over the last two years, detailed information and data essential in preparing a draft environmental impact statement," PennEast spokeswoman, Pat Kornick, said. "The... statement is part of a multi-year, multi-agency review."
Kornick, said that the project has received survey permission for more than 62 percent of the route when including the Pennsylvania portion and that the company continues to work directly with landowners on surveys.
She also pointed out that direct access to landowners' property is not the only way to conduct surveys, though they are most significant.
"The comment period associated with the draft EIS provides another opportunity for landowners, agencies and others to provide valuable feedback in preparation for FERC's final environmental impact statement," Kornick said.
Critics say they plan to do exactly that.
Rallies and conferences, set to occur an hour before the meetings, have been planned by opponents.
The first of two New Jersey hearings will take place Tuesday from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Clinton-Bridgewater's Hunterdon Ballroom located at 111 West Main Street in Clinton.
The second will take place Wednesday from 6 to 10 p.m. at Patriots Theater at the War Memorial in the George Washington Ballroom located at 1 Memorial Drive in Trenton.
Greg Wright may be reached at gwright@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregTheWright. Find NJ.com on Facebook.