The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced a new 15-day public comment period on the re-submitted Water Quality Certificate application for the proposed, federally regulated Constitution Pipeline.  Public comments on the proposed project will now be accepted until close of business on Thursday, May 14. Those who submitted comments during the first comment period which ended February 27, 2015 do not need to resubmit their comments. All comments received during the previous comment period will be considered as DEC reviews the permit application.

Due to the extended winter preventing necessary field work by staff, DEC requested additional time to complete its review of any potential impacts on wetlands and water quality. As requested and to continue the substantial progress reviewing the application and supporting documents that has been made to date, the applicant withdrew and subsequently resubmitted its application with no changes or modifications. DEC’s review of the application is ongoing and the applicant’s withdrawal and resubmission is not expected to unduly delay the agency’s final determination.  

The Constitution Pipeline is a proposed interstate natural gas pipeline that would traverse through Broome, Chenango, Delaware and Schoharie counties. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) was responsible for conducting an environmental review of the project and has the authority to approve the pipeline route.   FERC issued a final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) in October 2014, which can be viewed at: http://elibrary.FERC.gov/idmws/file_list.asp?accession_num=20141024-4001.

DEC maintains the authority to review applications for specific permits and approvals, including a Water Quality Certification, a Protection of Waters permit, a Water Withdrawal permit and a Freshwater Wetlands permit for state-protected wetlands and adjacent areas. This notice does not include the application for an Air Title V permit for the proposed compressor station upgrade.  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also must issue permits for the project and its review is ongoing. 

Written comments should be submitted to:

Stephen M. Tomasik
DEC – Division of Environmental Permits
625 Broadway, 4^th Floor
Albany, NY  12233-1750
dec.sm.constitution@dec.ny.gov

Copies of the FEIS and DEC permit application documents can be viewed online at: http://www.constitutionpipeline.com/.  Printed copies are available at:

The Broome County Public Library, 185 Court St., Binghamton

The Afton Free Library, 105A Main St., Afton

The Bainbridge Free Library, 13 N Main St., Bainbridge

The Franklin Free Library, 334 Main St., Franklin

Sidney Memorial Public Library, 8 River St., Sidney

Deposit Free Library, 159 Front St., Deposit

The Community Library, 110 Union St., Cobleskill

Schoharie Free Library, 103 Knower Ave., Schoharie

Huntington Memorial Library, 62 Chestnut St., Oneonta