PennEast Pipeline Application Rejected by New Jersey DEP

The pipeline had received conditional approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in January this year.

SEATTLE (Oil Monster): The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has denied permit to PennEast Pipeline. The denial of the long-pending wetlands permit is likely to further delay the 120-mile long natural gas pipeline project.

The application was originally submitted during the month of April last year. The DEP had informed the company that it lacked list of supporting information including tax maps, water crossings survey data etc., and had asked it to submit them at the earliest. However, PennEast had requested for more time to gather the required information. Even upon completion of 60 days of filing the application, the company failed to furnish additional information. The request by the company for additional time was turned down by the DEP.

The letter signed by Virginia Kop’Kash, assistant commissioner with the Division of Land Use Management at the NJDEP issued Thursday noted that PennEast failed to complete any additional documentation or a complete application. It stated that the earlier application now stands cancelled. However, the company is allowed to submit a complete new application with all necessary supporting documents, seeking the permit. Meantime, sources close to PennEast confirmed that the application will soon be resubmitted.

The pipeline had received conditional approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in January this year. The pipeline which passes through Hunterdon and Mercer counties will require approval from both NJDEP and the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC). The denial of application by the DEP would mean that the project is likely to face a difficult road ahead.