Federal Appeals Court Blocks Northeast Gas Pipeline Over Water Quality Concerns

A federal appeals court has blocked a proposed natural gas pipeline from Pennsylvania to New York and New Jersey. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Division ruled that the Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) pipeline violates local water quality regulations.

The NESE pipeline would run through sections of New Jersey to supply natural gas to the northeast region, including New York City. Environmental groups argued that the project would destroy wetlands in New Jersey and contaminate the Raritan Bay with mercury, copper, PCBs, and other toxins.

Jackson Garrity, a senior attorney with the National Resources Defense Council, called the ruling 'a win for the waterways of New Jersey' and stated that the project would have destroyed marine habitats. The Williams Company, which is behind the massive project, said they are reviewing the court's decision but claimed the pipeline remains critical to meeting energy demand in the region.