NJDEP to PennEast: Pipeline Denied
In a strongly worded letter to PennEast, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection denied a freshwater wetlands permit sought by the pipeline company. The Conditional Certificate that FERC recently issued for PennEast clearly states that the pipeline can’t proceed without permits from NJDEP. Tom Gilbert, campaign director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation said, “PennEast wants […]
Judge Denies Ramapo Polo Club’s Injunction Against Ramapoughs
A Superior Court judge just gave a significant win to EELC and its client, the Ramapough Mountain Indians. In an Order signed on December 15, the Court denied the neighborhood Polo Club residents’ request for a restraining order preventing the Ramapoughs from using their own land for prayer and cultural assembly. This involves the ongoing dispute […]
EELC Brings Constitutional Challenge Against FERC’s Use of Eminent Domain
According to the 5th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, “private property [shall not] be taken for public use, without just compensation.” Unfortunately for hundreds of homeowners and organizations, FERC is allowing pipeline companies to seize land unlawfully. In a precedent-setting challenge, on behalf of NJ Conservation Foundation, EELC and Columbia Environmental Law Clinic filed a complaint charging FERC with permitting companies […]
Coalition Forms to Oppose Transco’s Fracked Gas Pipeline Enhancement
“If we don’t stop this project, the floodgates will be open to future projects,” says Barry Kutch, the leader of Central New Jersey Safe Energy Coalition, a new client of EELC. Mr. Kutch is talking about NESE, a proposed Transco pipeline project by S&P 500 company Williams that would transport fracked natural gas through New […]
EELC Board of Directors welcomes Lydia Chambers
We are pleased to introduce you to our new Board member, Lydia Chambers. Lydia has been working as an environmental organizer in the Chatham area for the last 15 years. She served for over a decade on the Planning Board and Open Space Committee in Chatham Township. In conjunction with the Environmental Commission, she led […]
Policy Recommendations to Improve State Review of Proposed Pipelines
Policy Recommendations to Improve State Review of Proposed Pipelines Background Multiple infrastructure proposals for new non-renewable energy sources, including oil and natural gas pipelines and transmission lines, have been permitted and constructed in recent years or are pending throughout New Jersey. Pending project proposals include the PennEast, Northeast Supply Enhancement, South Jersey Gas and Southern […]
Appellate Court sends Highlands permit for sewage discharge back to the DEP
The NJ region’s Highland reservoirs provide drinking water for more than half of New Jersey’s residents. Reservoir flyover, November 1, 2016.In a long-running story for EELC and friends of Rockaway Creek, EELC Executive Director and attorney Aaron Kleinbaum won a major victory in court in the effort to prevent a sewage disposal plant from discharging […]
Client Feature: NJCF scientist Emile DeVito stewards the Pine Barrens
“I’ll have to call you back. I’m rushing an injured snake to the lab.” Emile DeVito, Manager of Science and Stewardship at the New Jersey Conservation Foundation (NJCF), had just finished cleaning up yet another pile of garbage illegally dumped in the New Jersey Pine Barrens when I called. Hiding among the debris was […]
State Judge bars Mahwah Hunt & Polo Club from participating in Township’s complaint against Ramapoughs
UPDATE: EELC attorneys Aaron Kleinbaum and Raghu Murthy are in court defending the Ramapough against municipal summonses alleging that they have violated the zoning code by constructing teepees on their property. Teepee summonses amount to harassment, Ramapough attorney argues. _____________________________ The Ramapough Lenape Nation – a State-recognized Tribe that owns land in Mahwah, NJ […]
Yahoo News: Does New Jersey need the PennEast pipeline?
EELC is representing New Jersey Conservation Foundation and Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association to oppose the PennEast pipeline. Many legal hurdles to the pipeline remain even though FERC is now likely to approve the project. As Tom Gilbert explains in this Yahoo News article: “There’s a lot of compelling evidence from credible sources that there’s no need for [PennEast],” Gilbert said. “It’s one thing […]
EELC hosts environmental justice strategy meeting
The North East Environmental Justice Attorney Group met on Tuesday, June 26, to discuss critical civil rights and environmental issues facing poor and minority communities, including climate change, cumulative polluting impacts, American Indian rights, and how to increase the diversity of environmental bar. These issues, in the view of many during the meeting, were […]
State judge dismisses Township of Mahwah’s restraining order against Ramapough Lanape Nation
Update: June 20, 2017 – The Ramapough Lenape Nation – a State-recognized Tribe that owns land in Mahwah, NJ – won an important victory in Court when Judge Powers filed a June 15, 2017 decision vacating the Township of Mahwah’s temporary restraints and Order to Show Cause to prevent the ceremonial use of the Tribe’s property. On […]
