Virtual Public Statement Hearing Set Regarding Application to Amend Seneca Valley Gas Franchise

ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) will hold a virtual public statement hearing on Thursday, October 5, 2023, regarding New York State Electric & Gas Corporation’s (NYSEG) petition to provide natural gas service to Seneca Dairy Systems’ new galvanizing facility.

On July 7, 2023, NYSEG filed a petition, pursuant to Public Service Law §68 and Parts 17 and 21 of New York Codes, Rules and Regulations, seeking an expedited order granting the Company an amendment to its Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to exercise its rights pursuant to existing franchise agreements with the Towns of Romulus and Varick, Seneca County, New York, to provide natural gas service to Seneca Dairy Systems’ new galvanizing facility.

Seneca Dairy Systems is a large manufacturer of iron and steel fencing, stalls, and animal pens for dairy and other agricultural industries. The new facility will be located on a 75-acre parcel within the former Seneca Army Depot in the Town of Romulus, Seneca County. NYSEG is proposing to construct a gas extension which will consist of installing approximately 3,500 feet of 4-inch, high density polyethylene pipe along the south side of County Road 135 within the county road right-of-way off an existing 8-inch gas main that runs on the east side of East Patrol Rd. The proposed gas main will cross under two separate single-track railways near the intersection of Fayette Road and County Road 135.

The company entered into gas franchise agreements with each of the municipalities in 1999, which collectively allow NYSEG to provide gas service to businesses and residential customers in the municipalities. The Commission granted the original CPCN in an April 10, 2000 order, and amended the CPCN in an October 22, 2004 order, in Case 00-G-0670.

The company’s petition may be viewed on the Department of Public Service’s website at www.dps.ny.gov. To access all filed documents in this case, click on “File Search” (located under the heading “Commission Files”), then click on “Search” and enter “23-G-0356” in the “Search by Case Number” field.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a virtual public statement hearing will be held before Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Tara Kersey as follows:

DATE: Thursday, October 5, 2023

TIME: 5:00 P.M.

Electronic Access: www.webex.com

Event Number: 2333 987 4717

Password: Oct5-5pm

Phone-Only Access: 518-549-0500

Access Code: 2333 987 4717

Password: 62850577

Those wishing to comment on any aspect of this proceeding will have the opportunity to make a statement on the record at the virtual public statement hearing. Any person wishing to provide a public statement must register to do so by Wednesday, October 4, 2023.

To register and provide a statement electronically:

Participants who would like to provide a statement and will log in to the hearing electronically must register by the date and time indicated above, by visiting www.webex.com. From the Webex homepage, registrants should click “Join a Meeting” at the top right-hand corner of the screen, enter the event number listed above, click “Register” (it is not necessary to add the password when registering), and provide all requested information.

When logging in to the hearing on the appropriate date and time of the hearing, participants should click on https://signin.webex.com/join, enter the meeting number for the hearing, and input the electronic access password noted above. Participants will be asked to “select audio system.” It is recommended that participants opt to have the system “call me” or “call using computer.” The “call me” option will require participants to enter their phone numbers.

To register and provide a statement by phone: Any participant who is not able to log in to the hearing electronically may participate by phone. Call-in participants wishing to make a statement at the hearing must register to do so by the date and time indicated above by calling 1-800-342-3330, where they should follow prompts to the appropriate hearing and provide the following information: first name and last name, address, and phone number.

On the day and time of the hearing, all call-in participants should dial 1-518-549-0500 and enter the access code and phone-only password provided above.

All participants will be muted upon entry into the hearing. The ALJ will call on each person who has registered to speak. The ALJ will continue the hearing until everyone wishing to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements have been made to include their comments in the record. Time limits may be set for each speaker as necessary to afford all attendees an opportunity to be heard. It is recommended that lengthy comments be submitted in writing and summarized for oral presentation. A verbatim transcript of the hearing will be made for inclusion in the record of this case.

To listen to the hearing: No registration is required for anyone wishing to listen to the hearing but not make a statement during the hearing. The hearing will be livestreamed on the internet and available for viewing on the Department of Public Service’s YouTube channel on the date and time listed above. To access the YouTube channel, visit the Department’s website (www.dps.ny.gov), and click on the YouTube icon at the bottom of the homepage. In addition, any person without internet access may listen to the hearing by phone by calling 1-518-549-0500 and entering the access code and phone-only password. Persons with disabilities requiring special accommodations should call the Department of Public Service’s Human Resources Management Office at 1-518-474-2520 as soon as possible. TDD users may request a sign language interpreter by placing a call through the New York Relay Service at 711. Individuals with difficulty understanding or reading English are encouraged to call the Department at 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this press release.

Other Ways to Comment

For those who cannot attend or prefer not to speak at the public statement hearing, there are several other ways to provide your comments to the Commission. Comments should refer to “Case 23-G-0356 – Seneca Dairy.” Although comments will be accepted throughout the pendency of this proceeding, they are requested by October 10, 2023.

Internet or Mail: Go to www.dps.ny.gov, click on “File Search” (located under the heading “Commission Files”), enter “23-G-0356” in the box labelled “Search by Case Number,” and then click on “Post Comments” located at the top right of the page.

Alternatively, comments may be mailed to the Hon. Michelle L. Phillips, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350. All written comments will become part of the record considered by the Commission and may be accessed on the Department of Public Service website by searching the case number, as described above, and clicking on the “Public Comments” tab.

Toll-Free Opinion Line: Individuals may choose to submit comments by calling the Commission’s Opinion Line at 1- 800-335-2120. This number is set up to receive in-state calls 24-hours a day. These calls are not transcribed verbatim, but a summary is provided to the Commission.

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