PSC Seeking Public Comment on Transmission Pipeline and Associated Facilities in the Towns of Big Flats and Horseheads and the Village of Horseheads, Chemung County

Commission Order Issued on January 17, 2013.
To review the order please scroll to the bottom of the page for the link

The New York State Public Service Commission will hold two information forums and two public statement hearings on the application of New York State Electric and Gas Corp. (NYSEG) to construct a 4.9 Mile Natural Gas Transmission Pipeline and Associated Facilities in the Towns of Big Flats and Horseheads and the Village of Horseheads, Chemung County. Public statement hearings will be held before an Administrative Law Judge.

Public Information Forums
Public Statement Hearings

Horseheads            
Thursday, April 26, 2012

3:00 p.m.             Public Information Forum
3:30 p.m.             Public Statement Hearing

7:00 p.m.             Public Information Forum
7:30 p.m.             Public Statement Hearing

Horseheads Highschool, South Wing
Multimedia Center
One Raider Lane
Horseheads, NY 14845

Interested members of the public are invited to attend these forums to receive information from the Department of Public Service (DPS) on the application process. Following each forum, members of the public may provide their comments regarding this matter at public statement hearings.  It is not necessary to attend the information forums, make an appointment in advance, or present written material to speak at the hearings.  Each public statement hearing will be held open for a minimum of one hour. The afternoon hearing will close no earlier than 4:30 p.m., and will remain open until 5:00 p.m, if necessary to hear people who wish to speak. The evening hearing will close no earlier than 8:30 p.m., and will remain open until 9:30 p.m., if necessary to hear people who wish to speak.

Disabled persons requiring special accommodations may place a collect call to the Department of Public Service's Human Resources Management Office at 518-474-2520.  TDD users may request a sign language interpreter by placing a call through the New York Relay Service at 711 to reach the Department of Public Service’s Human Resource Office at the previously mentioned number.

Background

Article VII of the New York State Public Service Law (PSL) establishes the review process for consideration of any application to construct and operate a fuel gas transmission line extending a distance of one thousand feet or more to be used to transport fuel gas at pressures of 125 pounds per square inch or more. 

On November 30, 2011, NYSEG submitted an application pursuant to Section 121-a(3) of the PSL for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need (Certificate) to construct a new 8-inch natural gas transmission pipeline and associated facilities located in the Towns of Big Flats and Horseheads, and the Village of Horseheads, Chemung County.  The pipeline would extend 4.9 miles between Inergy’s Seneca Lake Gas Storage Facility West Pipeline in the Town of Big Flats to NYSEG’s Elmira distribution system at Gardner Road in the Village of Horseheads.    

On December 14, 2011, NYSEG was notified by the Secretary to the Commission that the application documents were not in compliance with all of the Article VII requirements and that the deficiencies identified must be corrected before the application could be considered complete.  NYSEG submitted supplements to its application on December 27, 2011, January 6, 2012, February 7, 2012, February 9, 2012, February 10, 2012, and March 6, 2012.  On March 7, 2012, NYSEG was apprised that the application was determined to be in compliance with the Article VII requirements, and its implementing regulations, as of March 6, 2012.

How to Obtain Information

The project’s Article VII application documents and other material pertaining to the case can be viewed on the Commission’s website at www.dps.ny.gov : Click on 'Search', scroll down to the section labeled 'Search Commission Case Related Document' and enter 11-T-0654 in the empty box to the left of the field labeled, 'Search for Case/Matter number'.

Ways to Participate in the Article VII Process

Article VII provides opportunities for individual and group stakeholders to take part in the formal review of the application.  There are several ways to participate in the Article VII process as described below.  To save time and manage all of your service and party list subscriptions easily, you may become a registered user of the NYS Public Service Commission's Document and Matter Management (DMM) System, by going to the following web address http://www.dps.ny.gov/DMM_Registration.html .  Once registered, you can electronically submit requests to be added to the service of party list for a case.  You may also visit www.dps.ny.gov/MonitorProceedings.html to learn more about these opportunities. 

How to Comment on the Case:

(In all instances, your comments should refer to "Case 11-T-0654 - NYSEG - Big Flats to
Horseheads Natural Gas Pipeline.”)

• The Internet: Comments may be submitted via the Internet in two ways: (1) by accessing the Department’s website - http://www.dps.ny.gov - (See ‘How to Obtain Information’ section). Then click on “Post Comments” located at the top of the page, or (2) e-mail comments can be sent directly to the Secretary to the Commission at [email protected] .  Many libraries offer free Internet access.
• Mail Written Comments: Written comments may also be mailed to Hon. Jaclyn A. Brilling, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350.
• Toll-Free Opinion Line: Another way to submit comments is by calling the Commission’s toll-free Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120.  This line is set up to receive in-state calls 24-hours a day.  Callers should press “1” to leave comments regarding “Gas Issues”. 

Comments provided through any of these alternative methods must be submitted, or mailed and postmarked, no later than Wednesday, May 2, 2012. Written comments, and summaries of telephone comments, will become part of the record that the Commission will consider in this case. You can view all comments submitted electronically or in writing -- as well as transcripts of the public statement hearings, when completed -- by accessing the Department’s website at www.dps.ny.gov (See ‘How to Obtain Information’ section). Many libraries offer free Internet access.

For more information, or a copy of the case fact sheet click here.

Click here for a link to the Commission Order, posted January 17, 2013.