Several residents and environmental organizers used the public comment period at the Somerset County Board of Commissioners’ August work session to urge the county to oppose Williams Transco’s renewed application for the Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) project and to pass a formal resolution ahead of state hearings in September. The speakers asked the commissioners to send a clear message to state and federal regulators that the project is not in the public interest for county residents.

The comments came during the meeting’s public comment period. Linda Powell, a Franklin Township resident, said Williams Transco “has reapplied for the Northeast Supply Enhancement or NESE project” and that the proposal “is not needed and is not in the public interest for residents of New Jersey.”

Carol Keane, a Franklin Township property owner and a board member of the New Jersey Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center, told commissioners that the proposed Compressor Station 206 site is near active quarry blasting, farms, a Superfund site and several communities. “Having a hazardous polluting industrial facility next to the Vihara would be a blatant disregard for the cultural, spiritual, and environmental well-being of their community,” Keane said.

Stephen Mitchell, a Somerville resident, cited emissions figures presented by opponents and said the compressor station would emit “141,000 tons of CO2 per year” and “112 tons of other air pollutants such as nitrogen oxide, benzene, and xylene,” numbers he said exceed New Jersey thresholds. Mitchell said he had heard the company propose buying emissions credits rather than altering the project to meet state limits.

Charlie Cradaville, Central Jersey organizer for Food & Water Watch, urged commissioners to place a resolution on the board’s Sept. 9 agenda and to transmit it to the governor and state regulators. “Passing a resolution and sending it to the governor, to the DEP and to your state and federal reps would go a long way,” Cradaville said, noting an upcoming single DEP public hearing scheduled for the evening of Sept. 10.

Speakers identified two categories of state permits relevant to the project: a 401 Water Quality Certification and an air permit. Commenters said those permits are part of the current regulatory review and asked elected officials to weigh in with formal resolutions, public comments, or other official correspondence.

Commissioners did not vote on a resolution at the work session. In response to public requests, a county official said the board has previously passed resolutions on similar projects and indicated staff would follow up to confirm whether prior comments were filed and to consider next steps. The commission’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Sept. 9, one day before the DEP hearing opponents referenced.

What officials said and did at the meeting was limited to acknowledging the comments and promising follow-up; no formal county action regarding NESE was taken at the work session.