PSC Seeking Public Comment 

The New York State Public Service Commission will hold two information forums and two public statement hearings on DMP New York, Inc. and Laser Northeast Gathering Company, LLC's application to build a natural gas gathering line from Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania to the Town of Windsor, Broome County, New York. Public statement hearings will be held before Administrative Law Judge Howard Jack.

Interested members of the public are invited to attend these information forums to receive information from the Department of Public Service and the applicant. Following each forum, 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.  Each hearing record will remain open for at least one hour and will continue until everyone wishing to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements are made.

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.

Public Statement Hearings

Windsor Wednesday, October 20, 2010 1:00 p.m. - Information Forum 2:00 p.m. - Hearing Windsor Bible Baptist Church 155 Chapel Street Windsor, NY 13865

Windsor Wednesday, October 20, 2010 6:00 p.m. - Information Forum 7:00 p.m. - Hearing Windsor Central High School 1191 State Route 79 Windsor, NY 13865

Background

Article VII of the New York State Public Service Law establishes the review process for consideration of any application to construct and operate a major transmission facility in New York State.  Article VII applies to most fuel gas transmission lines that extend a distance of 1,000 feet or more that will be used to transport fuel gas at pressures of 125 pounds per square inch or more.

Article VII was established by the New York State Legislature in 1970 to review the need for, and environmental impact of, certain major electric and gas transmission facilities.  The law requires applicants to apply to the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need and to meet the requirements of Article VII before constructing a facility.  Criteria for reviewing gas transmission pipelines differ depending on the length and diameter of the pipeline.

On July 20, 2010, the PSC received an application for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need from DMP New York, Inc. and Laser Northeast Gathering Company, LLC to construct the New York portion of its proposed natural gas gathering line from Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania to the Town of Windsor, Broome County, New York. 

Summary of Case

DMP New York, Inc. and Laser Northeast Gathering Company, LLC (the Applicants) are proposing to construct a 9.82 mile, sixteen-inch natural gas gathering line in the Town of Windsor in Broome County, New York.  The pipeline would transport natural gas from nine existing wells operated by Alta Resources LLC in Susquehanna County and is planned to serve nine additional permitted wells to be drilled in the same area.  The natural gas from these wells would be transported by the proposed pipeline to market through its connection with the Millennium Pipeline Company, LLC's 30-inch pipeline located in the Town of Windsor.

The Secretary to the PSC informed the Applicants by letter dated August 3, 2010 of several deficiencies in their application that had to be remedied before the application could be considered filed in accordance with the requirements of the Public Service Law and its implementing regulations.  The Applicants submitted supplements on September 21 and 30, 2010 addressing all deficiencies and were notified by the Secretary that their application was in compliance with the Public Service Law as of that later date.

For further information regarding the case visit: http://www.dps.ny.gov, place your cursor over "What's Hot: Natural Gas," then click on "DMP - Laser Gas Pipeline," and then click on "Case 10-T-0350."  If you want a printable version of the factsheet regarding this case, you can click on the Case 10-T-0350.
 

How to Comment on the Case

• Mail Written Comments: Those who cannot attend or prefer not to speak at a hearing, may comment by writing to Honorable Jaclyn A. Brilling, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350 or electronically at [email protected]. Your comments should refer to "Case 10-T-0350: Windsor Natural Gas Gathering Line.
  
• The Internet: You also may comment using the PSC Comment Form. On the homepage of the Commission's consumer Website, www.AskPSC.com, (1) click on "Contact Us" and then (2) click on "Comment Form." The Comment Form also can be accessed through the Commission's other Website, www.dps.ny.gov. , place your cursor over "What's Hot: Natural Gas," then click on "DMP - Laser Gas Pipeline," and then click on "PSC Comment Form -10-T-0350." Many libraries offer free Internet access.
  
• 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."

All statements and comments received by the Administrative Law Judge(s) and the Commission will be placed in the case file and made available for public inspection in the Commission's file room in its Albany offices, Central Files, 14th Floor, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York.

 "MAJOR UTILITY TRANSMISSION FACILITY"

A Fuel Gas Transmission Line - extending a distance of 1,000 feet or more to be used to transport fuel gas at pressures of 125 pounds per square inch or more that is not wholly located underground in a city or wholly within the right of way of a state, county or town highway or village street, or which replaces an existing transmission line and extends less than one mile.

ARTICLE VII REVIEW OF FUEL GAS TRANSMISSION LINES
PROJECT TYPE	Less than 5 miles in length and 6" or less in diameter	Less than 10 miles, and if less than 5 miles, greater than 6" in diameter	10 miles or more in length of any diameter
TIMING	The PSC must make a determination within 30 days of receiving a complete application.  This time may be extended to 60 days where the PSC has found there is substantial public interest.	The PSC must make a determination within 60 days of receiving a complete application.  This time may be extended where the PSC has required a hearing.	No timing constraints.
REQUIRED FINDINGS	That the project poses no substantial public interest   or   That construction of a fuel gas transmission line will minimize or avoid adverse environmental impacts to the maximum extent practicable.	The basis of the need for the facility; The nature of the probable environmental impact; That the location of the line will not pose an undue hazard to persons or property along the area traversed by the line; The facility conforms with applicable state and local laws; and The construction and operation of the facility is in the public interest.	The basis of the need for the facility; The nature of the probable environmental impact; The extent to which the facility represents minimum adverse environmental impacts; That the facility of the line will not pose an undue hazard to persons or property along the area traversed by the line; The facility conforms with applicable state and local laws; and The construction and operation of the facility is in the public interest.
COMMENTS	Any person may file comments with the Commission; comments should be filed within 15 days of the date of service of the application.  An individual may make a comment by mailing a written statement to the Office of the Secretary, New York State Public Service Commission.  Individuals may also submit their views via the Commission's toll-free Opinion Line (1-800-335-2120) or the Internet (www.AskPSC.com).	Any person may file comments with the Commission; comments should be filed within 15 days of the date of service of the application.  An individual may make a comment by mailing a written statement to the Office of the Secretary, New York State Public Service Commission.  Individuals may also submit their views via the Commission's toll-free Opinion Line (1-800-335-2120) or the Internet (www.AskPSC.com).	Individuals can deliver an oral or written statement of concerns or personal views at a "public statement hearing."  An individual may also make a limited appearance by mailing a written statement to the Office of the Secretary, New York State Public Service Commission.  Individuals may also submit their views via the Commission's toll-free Opinion Line (1-800-335-2120) or the Internet (www.AskPSC.com).