Broad Coalition Demands Thorough Review of Pilgrim Pipelines

NEW YORK, NY - In a letter released today, 220 organizations, businesses and faith groups are calling on the lead agencies of the environmental review to make an "extraordinary effort" to gather public input about the risks associated with the proposed Pilgrim Pipelines, which would carry dangerous Bakken crude oil south from the Port of Albany and refined petroleum products in a parallel pipeline north from the Linden, New Jersey area.

The letter, which was initiated by the Coalition Against Pilgrim Pipelines-NY (CAPPNY), calls for a 90-day scoping comment period, as well as public meetings in all the counties and cities impacted by the pipelines, and one additional meeting in New York City. It points out that there is a wide range of environmental threats posed by the pipelines, which would require drilling under or through over 200 waterways, the destruction of wetlands and forests, and other impacts on unique cultural and biological resources.

The letter is addressed to the Department of Environmental Conservation and New York State Thruway Authority, and was signed by Food & Water Watch, Sisters of Charity of New York, Ramapough Lunaape Nation, Unitarian Universalist Women's Association - Metro NY District, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, 350 Brooklyn and many others.

As the letter states, "If New Yorkers are not provided adequate opportunity to comment on the scope of the assessment of this dangerous project, the well-being and integrity of New York State itself will not be served."