Grant allows for reforestation around pipeline

VERNON — Mayor Victor Marotta announced details about a tree-planting grant to reforest areas affected by the construction of Tennessee Gas' pipeline through the township.

The grant was received in response to the noncompliance of the “No-Net Loss” agreement by Tennessee Gas, whose pipeline destroyed large areas of plant life throughout town.

Director of the Department of Forestry of New Jersey, Evan Dilluvio awarded Vernon with $354,960 to be used to plant 1,183 trees on the ski-slope area of Hamburg Mountain, an area ravaged by the construction of the pipeline.

Marotta exchanged letters with Dilluvio and said he is “looking forward to working with him again.” He also to expressed his enthusiasm for the grant and said he is ready to “do some very exciting things with this grant, including providing the personnel necessary to do the planting so we don’t have to take that from our DPW.”

More details will be made available in the future as the ground thaws and planting can begin.