Tenn Gas Pipeline July 09 Public Comment Summary

DRAFT – FOR CONSIDERATION AT THE NOVEMBER 12, 2009 MEETING OF THE HIGHLANDS COUNCIL Public Comments Received on the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council Staff Draft Consistency Determination for Tennessee Gas Pipeline 300 Line Project (Comment Period of May 11 – June 29, 2009): • Attorney on behalf of Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company • Township of West Milford • Township of Vernon • New Jersey Conservation Foundation • The Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC) • Private citizens Public Comment Summary The public comments received included statements both supporting and opposing the proposed project, and also included comments from the applicant’s attorney. Some comments included specific comments on the Highlands Council’s Draft Consistency Determination (CD), while others were general comments on the project. In summary, the comments address the following issues: Supportive Comments • Believes that the project should be granted an exemption through Exemption # 11 as it is consistent with the goals and purposes of the Highlands Act. Understands that the majority of the upgrade project is on Tennessee’s existing, previously disturbed easement and that it would be constructed utilizing federally approved best management practices and the applicable state agency permitting processes. • Feels that the proposed project would not cause additional local development and yet, believes that the project has already provided ...