Albany, NY – The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) announced today that it will hold public statement hearings to seek comment on a petition by New York State Electric and Gas Corporation (NYSEG) to allow the company to expand natural gas service in the Town of North Salem, Westchester County, to serve new customers, including Bridleside Housing Development and North Salem Central High/Middle School. 

On May 23, 2014, NYSEG filed a petition for approval to install approximately 3,500 feet of 4 inch pipe along North Salem Road in the Town of Southeast, Putnam County, and 1,300 feet of 4 inch and 1,250 feet of 2 inch pipe on the south side of County Highway 310/June Road Junction.  Within five years, NYSEG anticipates providing natural gas service to multiple residences, a commercial customer and a municipal customer located along the proposed extension route. The Commission may approve, modify, or reject NYSEG’s proposal in whole or in part.

The public statement hearings will be held, before an Administrative Law Judge assigned by the Commission to hear this case, as follows:

TUESDAY, JULY 15

North Salem Town Hall

266 Titicus Road

North Salem, NY  10560

4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Public Statement Hearings

The public will have an opportunity to present their comments at two separate public statement hearings in North Salem, Westchester County. There will be an opportunity for informal discussion before the scheduled start of each hearing session. The 4:00 p.m. hearing session will remain open until 6:00 p.m. The 7:00 p.m. session will adjourn no earlier than 8:00 p.m. and will remain open until everyone wishing to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements are made.

To speak at the hearings, it is not necessary to make an appointment in advance or present written material. Persons will be called to speak after completing a request card. 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.  All comments at the hearings will be transcribed and become part of the Commission's formal record. 

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 14-G-0197 – North Salem Gas Line.”

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, mentioning the North Salem Gas Line.

A full copy of all documents filed in this proceeding may be viewed, printed or downloaded from the Commission’s website at http://www.dps.ny.gov by searching for Case Number 14?G?0197. Comments are requested no later than August 1, 2014, but 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 14-G-0197 (at www.dps.ny.gov, enter Case Number 14-G-0197 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 by searching for Case 14-G-0197 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.