A coalition of over 120 diverse groups, including climate organizations, environmental justice advocates, and public health entities, has formally called on New York Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to extend the public comment window for the proposed Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) pipeline.
The coalition is requesting that the current 30-day comment period be extended to a minimum of 120 days and that three public hearings be conducted in the communities that would be impacted by the project.
NESE, a fracked gas pipeline that had previously been rejected in 2020 for infringing on state water quality standards, was revived this year due to negotiations between Governor Hochul and President Donald Trump, who has expressed his intent to expedite fossil fuel infrastructure projects across the United States.
Laura Shindell, New York State Director at Food & Water Watch, emphasized the importance of public involvement in the decision-making process. “New Yorkers fought and stopped this project once before — and we won’t let it be rubber-stamped now,” Shindell stated.
She further criticized the haste of the current process, asserting, “Rushing public input to advance a Trump-backed pipeline isn’t just a betrayal of climate law — it’s an insult to the democratic process. Governor Hochul must stop doing Trump’s bidding and give the public the time they deserve to weigh in.”
Sara Gronim of 350Brooklyn echoed these concerns, noting that thousands of New Yorkers had previously organized against the project. “They would want to know that they are under threat from NESE again,” Gronim remarked.
The proposed pipeline would lay 17 miles of fracked gas infrastructure, traversing sensitive coastal ecosystems near Staten Island and the Rockaways. This activity could potentially jeopardize marine life, water quality, and the health of vulnerable communities.
Experts have raised alarms that the dredging involved in the pipeline construction might disturb toxic pollutants long settled in the ocean floor, thus contaminating surrounding waters and endangering New York’s beaches.
Advocates argue that advancing such a large-scale project, particularly under the current climate of summer heat and holiday distractions, undermines public input and contravenes New York’s legislative protections for climate and water resources.
Saylor Pochan, Chair Emeritus of Surfrider Foundation NYC, condemned the proposed project, stating, “New Yorkers have made it clear: we don’t want more pipelines threatening our coastlines, beaches, and communities just to pad fossil fuel profits.”
Pochan added, “Governor Hochul can’t claim to protect our ocean while opening the door for the same dirty projects we’ve defeated time and again. She needs to extend the comment period, add in-person hearings, and listen to coastal communities who will bear the brunt of this risk.”
Kim Fraczek, Director of Sane Energy Project, criticized Governor Hochul’s approach, suggesting that she has overlooked the sentiments of New Yorkers advocating against risking their communities for corporate gain. “If she wants to call herself a climate leader, this is her moment to prove it, or voters won’t forget when she comes asking for their trust again,” Fraczek warned.
As scrutiny of Governor Hochul’s fossil fuel policies intensifies, including her administration’s earlier approval of the Iroquois pipeline expansion, the coalition asserts that New York should not proceed with another detrimental energy project — especially one endorsed by President Trump — without a comprehensive and transparent review process.
image source from：foodandwaterwatch
