Three Public Meetings to be held in January

The public is invited to comment on permit applications the State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) received for the proposed, federally regulated Constitution Pipeline and an upgrade to the Iroquois Wright Compressor station in Schoharie County that is part of the project.  The Constitution Pipeline is a proposed interstate natural gas pipeline that would traverse though Broome, Chenango, Delaware and Schoharie counties.

Because the proposed pipeline and compressor station upgrade are components of an Interstate Natural Gas Transmission project, 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.  Additional federal reviews and approvals for the project also are necessary. The FEIS 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. These include an Air Title V permit for the proposed compressor station upgrade, as well as 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 for the pipeline installation.

Comments will be accepted on the permit applications from Dec. 24, 2014 to Jan. 30, 2015.  Comments can 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

In addition, DEC will hold public meetings to allow people to provide verbal or written comments.  The meeting schedule is: 

·    Binghamton – Monday, Jan. 12, 2015, 6 p.m.

East Middle School Auditorium, 167 East Frederick Street

·    Oneonta – Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015, 6 p.m.

SUNY Oneonta Lecture Hall IRC #3, 108 Ravine Parkway

·    Cobleskill, Wednesday, Jan. 14. 2015, 6 p.m.

SUNY Cobleskill, Bouck Hall Theater, State Route 7

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

Information on the Iroquois Wright Compressor Station can viewed at: http://www.iroquois.com/documents/WIP_-_NYSDEC_Air_Permit_Application_7-26-13.pdf

Printed copies are also available at:

Schoharie Free Library, 103 Knower Avenue, Schoharie

Town of Wright Municipal Building, 105-3 Factory Street, Gallupville