The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) is seeking comment on a proposal by National Grid to amend a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need to construct a new 345kV/115kV transmission station and six new transmission loops to connect three existing transmission lines to the station, located at 4580 Five Mile Road (County Route 19) in the Town of Humphrey, Cattaraugus County.  The station would be constructed on an 18.9 acre parcel currently owned by National Grid, bounded by Five Mile Road (County Route 19) on the east and south.  The Commission may approve, modify, or reject National Grid’s proposal in whole or in part.

Public Statement Hearings

The public will have an opportunity to present their comments at the hearings before an Administrative Law Judge assigned by the Commission to hear this case.  A verbatim transcript of the hearings will be made for inclusion in the record of the proceeding.

The public statement hearings will be held as follows:

MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013

 Olean Municipal Building

101 East State Street

Olean, New York

3:30 p.m. – Public Statement Hearing

6:30 p.m. – Public Statement Hearing 

There will be an opportunity for informal discussion before each hearing session. The 3:30 p.m. session will adjourn at 6:00 p.m. The 6:30 p.m. session will adjourn no earlier than 7:30 p.m. and will remain open until everyone wishing to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements are made. 

At 3:00 p.m. at the same location, there will be a preliminary conference where any person may offer and explain proposals regarding the procedures to be followed by the Administrative Law Judge and the Commission in this case.  The preliminary conference will reconvene if necessary at 6:30 p.m. immediately before the second public statement hearing.

It is not necessary to make an appointment in advance or to present written material in order to speak at the public statement hearings.  Speakers will be called after completing a card requesting time to speak.  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 as soon as possible.  TDD users may request a sign language interpreter by placing a call through the New York Relay Service at 711 to reach the Department of Public Service’s Human Resource Office at the previously mentioned number. 

Other Ways to Comment

Internet or Mail:  In addition to the formal hearings, comments may be sent electronically to the Secretary, at secretary@dps.ny.gov, or mailed or delivered to Hon. Kathleen H. Burgess, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350.  Your comments should refer to “Case 13-T-0077 – National Grid’s Article VII Transmission Station Proposal.”

Toll-free Opinion Line:  Comments may also be submitted through the Commission’s Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120.  This number is designed to take comments about pending cases from in-state callers, 24 hours a day.  Callers should press “1” to leave comments.

Comments will be accepted throughout the pendency of this proceeding.  Comments will become part of the record considered by the Commission.  Written comments may be accessed on the Commission’s website by searching Case 13-T-0077 (at www.dps.ny.gov, enter Case Number 13-T-0077 in the input box labeled "Search for Case/Matter Number") and clicking on the “Public Comments” tab.  Many libraries offer free Internet access. 

The Commission’s decision in this case, when issued, may be obtained on the Commission’s website and searching for Case 13-T-0077 as described above.  Commission orders may also be obtained from the Commission’s Files Office, 14th floor, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223 (518-474-2500).  If you have difficulty understanding English, please call us at 1?800?342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this press release.