Dear Senator Bateman

Raising the Bar, Making Real Demands

The Price of Admission to the Press Conference

Dear Senator Bateman:

I noted your appearance in Hopewell this week to support the effort of PennEast pipeline opponents.

It is always good news to see a Republican supporting environmental issues.

In fact, the Democratic website Blue Jersey praises you for that and posted video of your remarks, see:

• An Environmentally Friendly Republican

Knowing of your long standing support for the environment and your willingness to buck the Governor’s Office and Senate Republican leadership and even vote to over-ride the Gov.’s veto’s – and given that you closed your remarks by saying you were going to “send a strong message to FERC and DEP” (emphasis mine) – I was curious:

• Have you sent a letter to DEP Commissioner Martin and Governor Christie that documents how pipelines always “lower existing water quality”, how NJ’s Surface Water Quality Standards prohibit a lowering of existing water quality in Category One waters, and demanding that DEP deny PennEast’s water quality certification pursuant to Section 401 of the Clean Water Act?

• Have you sent a “Dear Colleague” letter and sponsored a Senate Resolution urging your fellow legislators – in both Houses – to sign that same letter to DEP Commissioner Martin and Governor Christie demanding that DEP deny PennEast’s water quality certification pursuant to Section 401 of the Clean Water Act?

• Have you co-sponsored the Senate Resolution (SCR 180 (Lesniak, Smith) to veto DEP’s recent Flood Hazard Act rule proposal?

• If not, would you support and sign such a letter and Senate Resolution?

I recall that you supported a similar Senate Resolution opposing off shore LNG

Please advise – and let me know when the Senate Environmental Committee meets to hear your Resolution. I wouldn’t want to miss that.

PS – next time you visit Baldpate, don’t do the event at that faux Gatsby veranda, break a sweat and climb to the top – spectacular view of the river: