PUBLIC INPUT SOUGHT ON BLUESTONE GAS PIPELINE
— Comments Requested on Proposed Natural Gas Pipeline in Broome County —

Albany, NY—08/17/12—The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) announced today it was seeking public comment on a Joint Proposal (JP) filed August 9, 2012, by Bluestone Gas Corporation of New York, Inc. (Bluestone), to construct and operate a 20-inch natural gas pipeline in the Town of Sanford, Broome County.  The Commission may adopt, adopt with changes, or reject any of the terms of the pending JP.  The Commission also may adopt terms other than those proposed.

Ways to Comment

Members of the public may provide their comments as follows:

Internet: Go to the Web site (www.dps.ny.gov), look under the headings “What’s Hot” and “Natural Gas,” click on “Bluestone Gas Corporation of New York, Inc.,” or search for Case 11-T-0401 or Case 12-G-0214 and then click on "Post Comments" at the top of the page.  Alternately, e-mail comments may be sent directly to the Secretary to the Commission at [email protected].

Mail or Delivery: Comments may be mailed or delivered to Hon. Jaclyn A. Brilling, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350.

Toll-Free Opinion Line: You may call the Commission's Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120. This number is set up to take comments about pending cases from in-state callers, 24 hours a day. Comments submitted via these alternate means are requested by August 31, 2012; however, they will continue to be accepted throughout the proceeding.  Comments will become part of the record considered by the Commission. Written comments may be accessed on the Web site by searching Case 11-T-0401 and Case 12-G-0214.  Many libraries offer free Internet access.

Background

As outlined in the JP, Bluestone would be authorized to construct an approximately 9.0 mile gathering line and 0.2 miles of station piping in order to collect gas from several permitted wells in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania and deliver that gas into the Millennium Pipeline at an interconnection point to be constructed in the Town of Sanford, County of Broome, New York.

The settlement negotiations resulted in substantial changes to the project that are designed to reduce its environmental impact and enhance the safety to the surrounding community. For example, Bluestone has withdrawn its request for approval of compression and dehydration equipment at the interconnection point with Millennium Pipeline.  Instead, Bluestone agrees to seek future Commission approval if and when compression facilities are needed.   In addition, Bluestone agreed that all natural gas entering the Project will be dehydrated before entering New York State and will meet the gas quality specifications for the Millennium Pipeline. Further, Bluestone has incorporated two changes in direction at the Route 17 crossing to minimize the visual impact of the Project at the crossing location.

Additional details are reflected in the JP, and its summary, appendices and exhibits, all of which are available on the Commission’s Web site at www.dps.ny.gov, click on “Search,” then search using the case number “11-T-0401.”