BAY HEAD – Borough residents gathered recently for an event called “Hands Around Twilight Lake” as a symbolic gesture to protect Twilight Lake from a $24 million New Jersey Transit Substation construction project.
This project involves the design and construction of a replacement Bay Head Yard substation. It is a single structure, including switch-gear, transformers and all other associated power cable, devices, and controls. The replacement Bay Head substation will be constructed on the site of the existing facility.
Borough residents Edward and Ellen Nolan, and Bev Furze are among the leaders of Concerned Citizens of Bay Head who organized the rally which brought over 300 participants to the lake. The group were joined by members of at least two other environmental organizations that took aim at a state permit required for the project to continue.
They want the project reconsidered and oppose the granting of a dewatering permit that would be issued by the State Department of Environmental Protection.
According to NJ Transit, the Bay Head Yard Substation Replacement Project continues efforts to protect critical infrastructure during future adverse weather conditions and other emergencies.
The substation had been severely damaged during Superstorm Sandy in 2012 with much of its electrical equipment impacted by storm surge. The yard’s two substation structures were submerged in 18” to 48” of salt water, creating serious damage.
“A redundant electrical utility feeder line for the new substation will also be included, to further increase resiliency. The substation will be elevated above flood elevation, as is now required by codes and standards, and will utilize components designed to better withstand contact with salt water in those places where project elements cannot be raised. The new substation will have two liquid-filled transformers to power Bay Head Yard’s buildings and the wayside power system that allows diesel locomotive engines to be shut down overnight, reducing noise and air pollution. The existing substation’s emergency standby generator system will also be replaced,” according to New Jersey Transit.
“It has been brought to our attention that New Jersey Transit received a categorical exclusion which allowed them not to conduct a thorough environmental investigation about the impact of the project, despite the fact that the substation is being constructed in the wetlands,” Ellen Nolan said.
“The fact that a construction permit was issued void of an environmental impact study is unconscionable,” she said. “The New Jersey Transit Substation in Bay Head supports antiquated technology, (diesel trains) which is clearly in opposition to Governor (Phil) Murphy’s Executive Order 100.”
“The project clearly needs to be suspended and re-evaluated. We hope that a logical solution will prevail,” Nolan said.
Bay Head Mayor Bill Curtis spoke during the rally. “Today’s event shows our solidarity and our determination to protect Twilight Lake, the wetlands and endangered species that live around in the wetlands, especially the osprey.”
Save Barnegat Bay Executive Director Britta Forsberg Wenzel said “there is a headwater coming right out of the marshes over there in the lake and this is a tributary to Barnegat Bay and is protected by the highest standards of the state and federal laws.”
“Unfortunately, with the funding for this project New Jersey Transit received what is called a categorical exclusion which allowed them not to conduct a throughout environmental investigation on the impact of the project. That is just unacceptable,” Wenzel added.
Manchester Township resident Karen Argenti is a member of the Board of Save Barnegat Bay. “They don’t have to give the permit. Just because you can give a permit doesn’t mean you have to do the permit.”
New Jersey Transit Senior Public Information Officer Kate Thompson told Jersey Shore Online “under the National Environmental Policy Act, the Federal Transit Administration decides what level of environmental review is appropriate for projects based on their potential impact.
“The Bay Head Yard Substation project qualified for categorical exclusion, which is a level of environmental review, and does not mean there was no review or analysis. NJ Transit did submit a report on potential environmental impacts for the Bay Head project. The submittal was consistent with the requirements from the FTA (Federal Transit Administration) for this type of project,” Thompson added.
“We have to stop this and tell everyone enough is enough,” New Jersey Board Chair of Clean Water Action Janet Tauro said. “This plan by New Jersey Transit is a dirty, filthy, polluting diesel supporting plan. We do not have the time for this. We are in a climate emergency.”
Tauro told Jersey Shore Online “osprey are protected under the migratory bird treaty act. They are endangered and have to nest, mate, and have babies by August so they are strong enough to go back to the Amazon where they stay for six months until they fly back here.”
“An osprey was nesting at Twilight Lake and New Jersey Transit was driving pilings and disrupting its nesting. That’s not allowed. They violated the treaty. Do they even know what the treaty is all about? They should do research before they start blasting pilings and using heavy equipment. Why would a state entity be so irresponsible?” she said.
Tauro noted, “other threatened species are the Black Crowned Night Heron. It nests there too and there is aquatic life which may not be endangered, but is still precious and an integral part of the ecosystem.”
“If this doesn’t indicate how important this lake is to our community and our constituencies, I don’t know what does,” Edward Nolan said concerning the rally.
“What we are pushing for right now is to get this dewatering permit stopped. We are also looking to get the ordinance enforced that says no work can be done during April 1 to August 31 which is the mating season or osprey. Ospreys are a protected species according to the wildlife act 73,” Edward Nolan added.
He added, “this project needs to be relooked at. It is eight years old. It is antiquated technology and there is a hell of a lot more we can do with that $24 million. We are going to be pushing to get this project reevaluated.”
According to the New Jersey Transit’s anticipated timeline, the substation foundation should be finished by August of this year with the substation building and equipment completed by August 2022. The foundation of the generator building is scheduled for completion by January 2023. Substantial completion of the project is set for August 2023. It was noted however that “schedules may evolve due to changing conditions, materials availability, etc.”
Paul Wyckoff, Chief, Government and External Affairs for New Jersey Transit, said in a March 11, 2020 community letter that a small, diesel generator and fuel tank that currently provides backup power to rail crew quarters and for other functions would be replaced as part of the substation project.
“Aside from emergencies, such backup generators run only once a month for mandatory testing. The replacement generator and tank will remain compliant with applicable spill prevention regulations and best practices. NJ Transit will continue to work with the Bay Head Borough Mayor’s Office and the community as work on the project progresses,” Wyckoff added.
