DEC Public Hearing on the Proposed Constitution Pipeline

 

East Middle School, Binghamton, NY
January 12, 2015

Summary of the Arguments Tendered in Favor of the Proposed Pipeline:

1. "I need a job."

 

While I sympathize with this, a transition to renewables would provide many times the number of good, permanent jobs as compared to this or any fossil fool pipeline. And when you get home from work, you'd still have a livable planet.

2. "There will be widespread benefits to the economy."

Again, nothing compared to the benefits of a transition to renewable energy, which will have the added benefit of avoiding the substantial downsides of fossil fuel extraction and use.

3. "The gas will be cheap."

We should not be providing economic incentives to waste energy and to produce more greenhouse gasses. The earth simply cannot afford this.

4. "In the old days we used to just toss oil and chemicals onto the ground and into the water. It didn't hurt us then and it won't hurt us now."

 

No clue as to the fact that cancer and other degenerative diseases are epidemic, and maybe this has something to do with it.

5. "We've been raping and pillaging the planet since ancient times. Why stop now?"

No comment.

6. "The regulatory agencies will protect you."

 

Hahahahahahahahahahahaha.
 

From the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation:

Public Comments Sought On Draft State Permit Applications For Proposed Construction Of The Interstate Constitution Pipeline

Public Comments Will Be Accepted From Dec. 24, 2014 through Jan. 30, 2015

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 can be submitted to:
 

Stephen M. Tomasik
DEC - Division of Environmental Permits
625 Broadway, 4th 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:
 

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