SEND A COMMENT. New extended DEADLINE: JULY 13, 2019
The New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has decision making power to stop this pipeline. They have very specific, legal criteria that gives them the power to deny Williams’ application. Read below for more info and a link to all our ACTIONS to an easy-to-access, online prompts that helps you write your comment letter that will be sent direct to the DEC. We will continue to add a new subjects in the coming days.
Background: When the DEC denied Williams a WQC on May 15, 2019, a major reason it gave for the denial was the fact that the NESE project “would result in greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions, which cause climate change and thus indirectly impact water and coastal resources.” However … when Williams re-applied on May 17, 2019, it responded that, “without agreeing that this comment is relevant to the Water Quality Certification,” building the NESE would reduce GHG emissions… CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION TO FORM YOUR COMMENT ON CLIMATE AND WATER IMPACTS
Background: When the DEC denied Williams a WQC on May 15, 2019, a major reason it gave for the denial was that construction of the NESE “would have major impacts to habitats due to the disturbance of shellfish beds and other benthic resources.” However… in Williams’ re-application submitted on May 17, 2019 (“WQC Application”), it responded that, while indeed, construction of the proposed pipeline would indeed destroy whatever shellfish beds lay in its path, it would offer “compensatory mitigation.” CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION TO FORM YOUR COMMENT ON IMPACTS THIS PIPELINE WILL HAVE ON SHELLFISH & BENTHIC ORGANISMS THAT ARE CRUCIAL TO OUR ECOSYSTEM
Background: When the DEC denied Williams a WQC on May 15, 2019, a reason the DEC gave for the denial was that the construction schedule did not provide any buffers that would keep it from impinging on “time-of-year” restrictions should Williams encounter any delays. These restrictions ensure that vulnerable species can migrate and spawn without impediment. However… in Williams re-application on May 17, 2019, Williams responded that it had made the construction plan shorter to ensure that it wouldn’t impinge on the migration and spawning of sensitive marine species. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION TO FORM YOUR COMMENT ON THEIR UPDATED CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE AND HOW IT IS EVEN MORE HARMFULL
Background: When the DEC denied Williams a WQC on May 15, 2019, a major reason it gave for the denial was that “[m]ost notably . . . water quality standards for both mercury and copper are projected to be exceeded in certain areas in New York State waters.” The DEC also noted “significant water quality impacts from the resuspension of sediments.” In Williams’ re-application their presentation of new data showing acceptable copper and mercury levels under its new construction plan is presented as more reliable than it actually is. Additionally… The slower dredging times that Williams promises to use to prevent excess copper and mercury conflicts with the schedule speed-up Williams promises to follow to avoid harming threatened and endangered marine species. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION TO FORM YOUR COMMENT ON THEIR UPDATED PLAN TO AVOID CONTAMINATING OUR WATER WITH MERCURY AND COPPER
Background: In its May 15th Denial of a Water Quality Certificate to Williams/Transco for its proposed NESE Pipeline, they cited concerns with “the construction and operation of the Project, and from reasonably foreseeable upstream and downstream GHG emissions.” However… On June 11, a consulting firm (hired by National Grid) published a report claiming that building this fracked gas pipeline would be good for the climate.
Background: When the DEC denied Williams a WQC on May 15, 2019, a major reason it gave for the denial was the harm the pipeline would inflict on shellfish. Transco itself predicted “100% mortality” to all shellfish in the pipeline’s path. Additionally, one of the mitigation measures it proposed was buried deep in an appendix and concerned “shellfish offsets”—money given to shellfish restoration programs in places other than where the pipeline would be built.
Background: One of the reasons for the DEC’s denial of the water quality certification (WQC) on May 15, 2019 is the negative impact that this project will have on the wide array of marine wildlife that live in the NY Harbor. For example, the DEC correctly points out that “suspending copper laden sediments will harm, inhibit reproduction, or kill aquatic life in the bay resulting in an impaired fishing use in Raritan Bay.”
Background: The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) made a strong statement in asking the federal regulators (FERC) why renewables were not considered in lieu of the Williams pipeline in order to comply with our state's renewable energy goals. FERC responded that the purpose of Williams' project was to transport gas, and since renewables can't transport gas, FERC didn't need to consider them. Their logic couldn't be more twisted.
Right now, another New York State agency, the Public Service Commission (PSC), is taking comments on the issue of making renewable heating options available to New Yorkers.
Background: State agencies, such as the DEC, review public comments, and will more often put comments that are copy and paste form comments into one pile to consider as a group, and pay special attention to the comments that have an individualized story or letter.
We have garnered over 6,000 comments opposing Williams Transco’s (WT) re-application since May 17, 2019 using very specific legal parameters that the DEC needs to deny the permit again, however, we’d like you to make this personal now.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION and IDEAS TO FORM YOUR PERSONAL COMMENT to the NY DEC.
Background: In New York, public utilities are natural monopolies, but are overseen and regulated by a public utilities commission to ensure accountability to the public. However, utilities can easily take advantage of their power—and that's what National Grid has done. This week, National Grid abused their monopoly power to panic customers into lobbying for their private profit to build the destructive Williams NESE Pipeline. The PSC, LIPA and DEC need to know how we feel about this.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO WRITE A TRIPLE-POWERED LETTER TO STOP UTILITY MANIPULATION