FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                    Contact: Adriana Surfas
Friday, May 2, 2008                         (202) 225-3661     

Court Ruling Marks End of Islander East Pipeline Project

New Haven , CT – Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3) welcomed the ruling by the Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that let stand a decision by Connecticut ’s Department of Environmental Protection to deny the Water Quality Certification for the proposed Islander East natural gas pipeline through the Long Island Sound.

Additionally, earlier this year the Federal Appeals Court dismissed the Islander East case and directed the Commerce Secretary to justify the Department’s decision to overturn the October 15, 2002 coastal zone consistency denial issued by Connecticut ’s Department of Environmental Protection. The Commerce Department has not yet responded.

“This court ruling marks the end of the Islander East pipeline project.  By upholding Connecticut ’s denial of the necessary permits, the courts have issued a ruling that cannot be appealed. 

“This proposal has been a source of great concern for the five communities which would be impacted by its construction, as well as a number of residents concerned with its impacts on the health and vitality of Long Island Sound.  Connecticut ’s shoreline communities and the Long Island Sound – particularly the Thimble Islands and associated shell-fisheries in this area – represent an enormous cultural, historical, and economic value to our state.  The drilling and trenching activities associated with the proposed pipeline will endanger the local environment and the Sound as a whole. 

“Although Islander East is reviewing the decision, they are left with few options – they can respect the opinion of many of Connecticut’s elected officials and the shoreline communities and walk away from the project; appeal to the Supreme Court; or return to the drawing board a creating an entirely new proposal.

“While I understand and appreciate the benefits to additional energy resources, I cannot support a proposal that will have such negative impacts on our communities and provides no benefit to our State. Solutions to our neighbor’s energy needs cannot be made at the expense of the State of Connecticut and the Long Island Sound.”

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www.house.gov/delauro