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 […]
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 […]
EELC helps broker agreement between Bergen SWAN and Suez Water Company
Last month, EELC helped Bergen SWAN negotiate two agreements with the Suez Water Company, which protect the environment and protect the quality of the Oradell Reservoir’s drinking water supply. The first agreement involves Suez’s proposed sale of its former headquarters property in Harrington Park. Both the north and south sides of the property border the […]
EELC’s Amicus Curiae motion granted in Meer Tract case
On May 17th, Judge Caposela in Passaic County Superior Court granted EELC’s motion to allow the New Jersey Highlands Coalition to participate as Amicus Curiae, in a case involving the Meer Tract. The Meer Tract is located at Federal Hill, an historically and environmentally important 180-acre property preserved as open space in the Highlands Region, […]
New Jersey Appeals Court backs EELC over Highlands water discharge permit
Update: May 4, 2017 – EELC is pleased to have won a New Jersey appellate court ruling which held that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection should not have issued a permit for a proposed water treatment facility to discharge into a Highlands creek. The Court stated that NJDEP must respect the resource protection goals […]
