PSC Invites Public Comments on a Petition in Which New York State Electric & Gas Corporation (NYSEG) Has Asked the Commission to Amend a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity

The New York State Public Service Commission will hold two public statement hearings on the application of New York State Electric and Gas Corp. (NYSEG) to extend its natural gas distribution system in the Town of Romulus, Seneca County.  The first phase would be installed from the former Seneca Army Depot at the west end of Seneca Street, to the Romulus Central School District property.  The second phase would run from the new line near the school property, (a) north and east along Russell Road and north 1,200 feet along Main Street to a mobile home park, and possibly (b) east from Main Street 1,827 feet along Cayuga Street. Public statement hearings will be held before an Administrative Law Judge.

Interested members of the public may provide their comments regarding this matter at public statement hearings.  It is not necessary to make an appointment in advance, or present written material to speak at the hearings.  Persons will be called to speak after completing a request card. All comments at the hearings will be transcribed and become part of the Commission's formal record. The evening hearing will close no earlier than 8:00 p.m., and will remain open until everyone wishing to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements have been made.

Immediately before each formal session, there will be an opportunity for informal discussion.  In addition, at the start of each formal session, anyone may present and explain proposals regarding the procedures to be followed by the Administrative Law Judge and the Commission in this case.

Public Statement Hearings

Romulus            Tuesday, June 19, 2012

3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m.  – evening session
 (at least one hour)

Romulus Central School – Cafeteria*
5705 Route 96
Romulus, NY 14541-9551
(*The cafeteria is in the center of the school building, accessible from both the north and the south parking lots.)

Background

NYSEG has asked the Commission to amend a certificate of public convenience and necessity. The certificate, which the Commission issued on June 21, 2000 and amended on October 22, 2004, authorizes NYSEG to exercise natural gas franchises in the Towns of Fayette, Romulus, and Varick, primarily by extending pipelines on the former Seneca Army Depot. NYSEG now proposes an additional amendment which would allow it to extend service to the Romulus Central School District and other potential customers on sites neighboring the proposed pipeline extensions.

Service to the school has been approved by voters as part of a capital improvement project to substitute high efficiency gas heated boilers for older oil heated boilers currently in service. For this purpose, NYSEG would install about 3,175 feet of two-inch diameter high density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe from an existing eight-inch diameter pipeline outside the fence line of the former Seneca Army Depot at the west end of Seneca St.  The proposed gas line would be installed via directional drilling along the south side of Seneca St. to Main St. (NY Rte. 96).  Near the intersection of Seneca St. and Main St., the line would be routed behind two residential buildings, and then it would continue south along the west side of Main St. to the Romulus Central School District property. NYSEG proposes to complete this phase by September 2012.

The second phase, also to be placed via directional drilling, would tie in to the proposed first-phase gas line at the intersection of Seneca St. and Russell Rd., and follow the west and north sides of Russell Rd. to the intersection with Main St. Two HDPE gas lines then would extend north, one on each side of Main St., for approximately 1,200 feet to a mobile home park.  This phase may also include approximately 1,827 feet of HDPE gas line along the south side of Cayuga St. This phase is proposed for completion in 2013.

According to NYSEG’s petition, customer additions would provide revenues sufficient to cover the projects’ costs without the need for a surcharge on existing gas customers, and gas supplies are adequate to avoid disruption of service to existing firm gas customers.

The Commission may approve, modify, or reject NYSEG’s proposal in whole or in part.

How to Obtain Information

The Commission’s June 2000 and October 2004 certifications may be viewed via the home page of the Commission’s website, www.dps.ny.gov, by clicking on “Search” and entering 00-G-0670 as the case number. To see NYSEG’s pending petition and all other documents filed in the present case, follow the same procedure but enter 12-G-0194.

How to Comment on the Case:

(In all instances, your comments should refer to "Case 12-G-0194 – NYSEG – Romulus Pipeline Projects.”)

The Internet:  Comments may be submitted via the Internet in two ways: (1) by accessing the Case via the Department’s website, http://www.dps.ny.gov (see ‘How to Obtain Information,’ above). Then click on “Post Comments” located at the top of the page for this case; or (2) comments can be e-mailed 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.  Press “1” to leave comments regarding “Gas Issues.”

 All comments by these methods must be received by the Secretary no later than June 20, 2012.

All such comments, together with all statements transcribed at the public statement hearings, will become part of the record, will be posted for public viewing on the Commission’s website at www.dps.ny.gov, and will be reported to the Commission for its consideration.

In addition to the statements and comments, all other documents issued or submitted in this case can be found on the above website by searching for Case 12-G-0194.

You can click here for a printable factsheet regarding information in this case.