Just Watchin’ the River Flow. Again
In a major victory for environmentalists and my fellow Delaware residents, a special master appointed by the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the tiny state’s jurisdiction over the Delaware River basin extends to the New Jersey shore, meaning likely defeat for a proposed multi-billion dollar liquefied natural gas terminal.
Special Master Ralph I. Lancaster, drawing on over 300 years of history dating back to pre-Colonial settler William Penn, said that “as the sovereign owner” of the Delaware River bottom, the state of Delaware can regulate and police developments extending from New Jersey’s shoreline.
New Jersey officials said they would appeal to the high court, which has final say, although the court usually relies on the decisions of its special masters and has ruled for Delaware in two previous cases involving the disputed border.
The case was brought after Delaware rejected a permit for a 2,000-foot-long pier extending out into the Delaware from the Jersey shore where tankers carrying super-chilled gas would make deliveries to a terminal proposed by energy giant BP.
The proposal raised safety fears because an estimated 22,000 residents living near the river’s main shipping channel would have been at risk of death in the event of a major accident. The terminal also was a violation of Delaware’s pioneering Coastal Zone Act, which bans new heavy industry along the river.
Please click here to read more at Kiko’s House and for an explanation of the map.
opinions powered by SendLove.to
12 Responses to “Just Watchin’ the River Flow. Again”
Excellent. They can build the damn thing somewhere else. How dare they try to pull such crap.
White Agent:
While I applaud the ruling, I take a more nuanced view.
The terminal would have been a boon for the South Jersey economy. It hypothetically would have been a factor in lower LNG prices in the region.
But the terminal also would have been a time bomb and a potential environmental disaster.
It is the California paradox. People want cheaper energy the just do not want any of the infrastructure near where they live.
I wonder if anyone will connect the ban of new heavy industry with the loss of American manufacturing jobs. I bet the Korea, Japan, China, or Singapore would not ban all new heavy industry.
Superdestroyer:
Delaware has not banned new heavy industry. It welcomes it, but not in the environmentally sensitive coastal zone.
As a matter of fact, there are several prime heavy industrial sites available with rail and highway links if you’d like to relocate here.
shaun,
My guess is that Delware would not have care about the LNG facility as long as it had been built in Delware instead of New Jersey.
Almost all public concerns for safety and environment are really just NIMBYism or rent seeking.
Superdestroyer:
Wrong.
Shouldn’t you credit the newspaper? Isn’t that its map on the front page today?
Bob:
Credit added, altho the link was to the map and newspaper article.
The stupid NIMBYs will be the first to compain about gas shortages or higher gas prices later.
Shawn,
If you think that states do not use environmental laws to benefit the industries in their own states, I suggest you look up United States V Alabama considering RCRA laws.
Shaun Mullen- So. I don’t sell lives for profit. The Greedy capitalists will certainly not be living any where near this facility. Besides, jobs are needed elsewhere also.
Hello! there. You have a good blog. Nice read…
Take care!
Jessica