NORWICH – So far, elected officials have been the primary extenders – from the government level – of public opposition to the NYRI power line. But should local and state tax dollars be affording concerned residents more than just the support of area legislators?
According to Supervisor James Bays (D-Smyrna), state departments and agencies should also be reviewing the 400,000 volt New York Regional Interconnection, and advocating in the best interests of the citizens, businesses and organizations they represent along the proposed corridor.
“We’ve given a pass to the appointed officials in the executive branch who have the same responsibility as legislators to act in the interest of their constituency,” Bays said. “We’ve let the executive branch off the hook.”
Since the fight began in March, citizens have been urged to contact their state and federal representatives, several of whom have in-turn conducted informational hearings with NYRI officials, provided line-item funding to fight the line, and helped pass legislation currently blocking the power company’s use of eminent domain. Bays contends the list of contacts should also include the names and addresses of the various executive state offices who are already statutory parties in power line cases – meaning they automatically receive every project Article VII application, including NYRI’s which was handed out in June – and are given the choice to study them and provide any insight in relation to their areas of expertise.
“We are missing the boat if we only look to our legislators,” said Bays. “We need to look at the executive branch as well.”
Statutory parties in the NYRI case include: Empire State Development; the Department of Public Service; the Department of Transportation; the Department of Agriculture & Markets; the Department of Environmental Conservation; the Department of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation; the Department of State; and the Attorney General’s Office. Thus far, the only notable involvement has come from the Attorney General, the DEC, DOT, and DPS.
Considering the NYRI power line would cut through 44 miles of Chenango County who’s number one industry is still dairy farming, Bays believes it would be prudent for the Department of Agriculture & Markets to assess how the line would effect farm land.
“We have not taken any action at this point. However, we are involved in those discussions,” said Jessica Chittendon, a spokesperson for Agriculture & Markets. “We are one of the agencies that are involved. We are looking into it.” The line would also cut through predominant farming counties such as Madison and Delaware.
An official with the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation said that his department has also not officially become involved in the proceedings.
“We have to wait until something real is happening,” said John Bonafide, the Historic Preservation Services Coordinator, explaining that department will get involved if the evidentiary hearings move forward and it is apparent the project will affect areas within their jurisdiction. “We really have nothing in-house right now.”
NYRI’s Article VII application lists 265 areas of archeological and historical significance lying on, along or within one quarter mile of the line’s pathway. The historic districts in the Villages of Earlville and Sherburne are included in that list.
Bonafide acknowledged that earlier this year Parks & Recreation provided NYRI with a “generic overview” of what they would require, and did not hear back from the firm. Bonafide added that his department would become involved if historic buildings and lands were to be encroached upon, or if viewshed analysis showed the line would have an effect on historic landscapes.
Several messages left with the Empire State Development offices in Binghamton and Utica were not returned.
A representative from the state Public Service Commission, the agency reviewing NYRI’s bid, said that statutory parties are not officially obligated to act on an application, they just automatically receive them so they have the option too.
“There isn’t a requirement placed on them that I know of,” said PSC representative Jim de Waal Malefyt.
However, Bays recalls working for Agriculture & Markets in the late 1970s when that department was able to review a power line project and offer alternatives to minimize its effect on farm land. In his opinion – regardless of whether or not it is an obligation – he hopes executive departments will extensively examine the NYRI project to hopefully calculate and/or minimize its effects as well.
“We pay for them, they are on the job,” Bays said. “We can reasonably expect them to advocate in our best interests.”