Newz Forum: FOOTBALL: New Jersey wants new environmental study of proposed Jets stadium

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) Fearing adverse impacts from traffic and sewage, New Jersey officials want an additional environmental study of the proposed Manhattan football stadium for the New York Jets.

Attorney General Peter Harvey and officials with the state Department of Environmental Protection said the project would have a harmful impact on New Jersey.

In comments filed with the New York City Department of City Planning, Harvey characterized the city's environmental impact statement as "seriously deficient."

"New York City has proposed a massive development project that will shoehorn a 75,000-seat stadium into one of the most congested metropolitan areas in the world," Harvey said. "Serious questions have been raised as to whether the city's transportation and sewage infrastructure can handle the strain.

"There's no question that there will be a negative environmental impact on New Jersey. The question is, how big will it be? We want answers."

The Jets have proposed the $1.4 billion stadium to be built on Manhattan's west side. They currently play at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, where their lease expires in 2008.

Rachaele Raynoff, a spokeswoman for the New York City planning department, said the concerns raised would be given "careful consideration."