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Spectra Gasline Expansion Statement
PRESS STATEMENT
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Linda D. Puglisi, Town of Cortlandt
(914) 734-1002, Fax (914) 734-1003
For Immediate Release
March 4, 2016
Spectra Gasline Expansion Statement (March 7, 2016)
The Town Board and I along with many residents and our citizen task force have publicly opposed this Spectra A.I.M. natural gasline expansion project for the past three years. We submitted petitions, passed resolutions, wrote letters, held rallies and press conferences and attended every F.E.R.C., D.E.C., etc. public hearing on this project. At every event we stated: We are against the expansion and re-routing of the Algonquin/Spectra gasline for the following reasons:
- Too close to Indian Point nuclear plants (it was re-routed closer than it was before).
- The pressure was being increased by 25%.
- It was being re-routed only 500 ft. from an elementary school in Buchanan.
- We were concerned about ecological and environmental impacts to the Hudson River, the riverbed, the fish hatching area of Haverstraw Bay, the watershed.
- We also were very concerned about airborne particles due to the construction, which by the way, our residents are experiencing today in the Verplanck area of town.
- Our arguments about thousands of trees some 100+ years old being felled and the devastation this would do to our community was part of our opposition. This concern has also become a reality as can be viewed in our Cortlandt community.
- Noise pollution was another issue during the lengthy construction, as well as truck traffic and many equipment staging areas. All have been part of this construction process that began in mid-2015.
For three long years we all fought this large impactful project and then F.E.R.C. which supersedes a local government approved the project going from PA, across the Hudson River, through Cortlandt and northern Westchester County up to New England, on March 3, 2015 and refused to re-open their public hearings after we all requested to be re-heard. Very Unfortunate!
Assemblywoman Sandy Galef has stood with us in Cortlandt and in Buchanan throughout this three year battle as have Congresswoman Nita Lowey and County Legislator Catherine Borgia and Mayor Theresa Knickerbocker and her board of trustees. Our town board and I have appreciated their efforts.
The New York State Governor, Andrew Cuomo, who received our letters and petitions over the years, has finally come out in opposition to the Spectra/Algonquin pipeline project asking for a full assessment since it’s close to Indian Point. I am pleased that he has come forward but it may be too late since construction approved by F.E.R.C. began eight months ago. The Town of Cortlandt spent $300,000 trying to block it but the Federal Regulatory Commission supersedes the Town, the Village and perhaps the State.
Linda D. Puglisi
Supervisor
Town of Cortlandt