Case 13-T-0235 - PSC Seeking Comment on a Joint Proposal by NYSEG and NIMO Regarding the Construction of a Electric Transmission line in Cayuga and Onondaga Counties

 

PSC Seeking Public Comments

The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) held two public statement hearings regarding the application of New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) and National Grid to build a new 115 kilovolt (kV) electric line from the State Street Substation in Auburn to the Elbridge Substation in Elbridge, as described below. 

Public Statement Hearings were held on December 9, 2013, at the Cayuga County Office Building and on December 10, 2013 at the Jordan-Elbridge Community Center.

Transcripts of the public statement hearings and all other comments received by the Commission have become part of the record and are posted for public viewing on the Commission’s website, at www.dps.ny.gov.

 

Proposed Facility Location

NYSEG and National Grid propose to construct and operate 14.5 miles of 115 kV electric transmission line in an expansion of existing rights-of-way (ROWs) in the City of Auburn, Town of Throop, and Town of Brutus in Cayuga County and the Town and Village of Elbridge in Onondaga County, running between NYSEG’s State Street Substation in Auburn and National Grid’s Elbridge Substation in the Town of Elbridge (the Project).  The Project will involve the following principal components: (a) constructing a new 115 kV electric transmission line along the 4.2 mile NYSEG ROW and along the 10.3 mile National Grid ROW; (b) relocating by reconductoring with new conductor an existing National Grid 115 kV electric transmission line along the same 10.3 mile National Grid ROW; and (c) increasing the capacity of an existing 115 kV electric transmission circuit along the same 14.5 miles of existing ROW between the two substations by (i) rebuilding an existing NYSEG 115 kV electric transmission line along the 4.2 mile NYSEG ROW, and (ii) busing together two existing National Grid 115 kV electric transmission lines along the 10.3 mile National Grid ROW.  The Project will require Applicants to acquire property rights outside existing ROWs for proposed widening of ROWs.

 

New York State Certification Review Process for Major Electric Transmission Lines

Article VII of the New York State Public Service Law establishes the review process for consideration of any application to construct and operate an electric transmission line with a design capacity of 100 kilovolts or more, extending for at least ten miles.  The Commission received this application for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need from New York State Electric and Gas Corporation and National Grid on May 31, 2013, which was supplemented on November 13, 2013.

The public statement hearings identified in this fact sheet are being held to provide the public with the opportunity to comment on the Project.

The PSC must decide whether to grant or deny the application, and must make findings regarding:

• The basis of need for the facility;
• The nature of probable environmental impacts, and whether impacts are minimized;
• What part, if any, of the line shall be constructed underground and whether the project conforms with plans for electric grid expansion;
• Whether the Project conforms with local laws and regulations, or the need for waiver of those laws and regulations; and
• Whether the Project serves the public interest, convenience and necessity.

 

How to Obtain Information

To review the Article VII application documents and other materials pertaining to this case, including a Summary and Description of Studies of the Environmental Impact of the Proposed Facility, from the Commission’s website, www.dps.ny.gov, click on “Search,” and enter “13-T-0235” in the “Search by Case Number” field.

 

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 clicking on this link: http://www.dps.ny.gov/DMM_Registration.html.  Once registered, you can electronically submit requests to be added to the service or party list for a case.

• Party Status: Becoming a party to a case enables an individual or group to contribute to the development of a complete record by conducting discovery, submitting testimony, briefs, or other formal written comments, and participating in evidentiary hearings, procedural conferences and other formal events conducted in the case.
  
  When you submit the request for party status on-line (through DMM), you will be provisionally added to the party list, subject to the right of other parties to object and subject to the determination of the Administrative Law Judge.  You will be required to mail your request to anyone on the party list who cannot receive e-mail service.  If you do not wish to register online through the Commission’s DMM System, you can download the “Request for Party Status Form” (http://tinyurl.com/PSCParticipateForms) and follow the filing instructions on the form. If you do not have access to a computer, you can call or write to Administrative Law Judge, NYS Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223-1350, 518-474-4520, to request that a form be mailed to you.  Please refer to Case Number 13-T-0235.

 

• Service List: Interested persons who wish to monitor the proceedings of a particular case can do so without the formal commitment to become a party to the proceeding.  The persons who subscribe to the service list of a case will receive an e-mail with a direct link to the documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulings.  Persons unable or unwilling to receive such electronic notification will receive hard copies of Commission-issued documents by regular mail.
  
  If you do not wish to register on the NYS Public Service Commission’s DMM System, you may download the “Service List and Mail Service List Request Form” (http://tinyurl.com/PSCParticipateForms) and send the completed form by e-mail to Hon. Kathleen H. Burgess, Secretary at [email protected].  If you are unable to e-mail the form to the Secretary, you may mail your request to: Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223-1350.

 

• Web Monitoring: Interested persons who choose not to sign up to receive e-mail notifications can view our website at their convenience to check on the status of a case.  All documents filed by parties, correspondence, hearing transcripts, and documents issued by the Commission in a given case are posted on the website for that case.  In addition, all comments submitted by the public are posted under the ‘public comments’ tab for the case.

 

Other Methods for Commenting on the Case

Via the Internet or In Writing:  Public comments may be submitted electronically to Hon. Kathleen H. Burgess, Secretary, at [email protected], or by mail or delivery to, Secretary Burgess at the Department of Public Service, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350.  Comments may also be entered directly at the Commission’s webpage.  In the open case, enter comments in the “Post Comments” located at the top of the page.  Comments should refer to “Case 13-T-0235 Auburn Transmission Project.”  Many libraries offer free internet service.

Toll-Free Opinion Line:  Individuals may choose to submit comments 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.  These calls are not transcribed but a summary is provided to the administrative law judges who will report to the Commission and will be posted for public viewing on the Commission’s website, at www.dps.ny.gov.  Callers should press “1” and select the choice for electric to leave comments about “Case 13-T-0235 Auburn Transmission Project.”

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