WCDO Radio News

Empire State Development Announced that Amphenol Corporation in Sidney will receive $750,000 for propane to their Sidney factory while they wait for a natural gas pipeline to be built through the southern tier. The ESD Board approved of the Monday to divert up to $750,000 in an existing incentive package that allowed Amphenol to stay in Sidney after the 2 serious floods in 2006 & 2011. Amphenol operates a new closer to the I-88 Corridor, where they will be able to acquire natural gas service from the planned Constitution Pipeline.

Federal officials have scheduled hearings on the 2nd natural gas pipeline proposal through the Southern Tier. The sessions hosted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will begin at 7:00 PM Thursday at the Foothills Performing Arts Center in Oneonta, & at the Days Inn in Schoharie. Kinder Morgan proposes constructing a pipeline along the same corridor as the recently approved Constitution Pipeline, to move gas from Pennsylvania into New England. The Kinder Morgan Pipeline still needs approval from FERC.

State Senator Jim Seward today announced his opposition to plans to site a 2nd gas pipeline through portions of his district. Seward said that the proposal submitted by Tennessee Gas Pipeline should be rejected, as the area is already under FERC approval by the Constitution Pipeline, which is slated to will supply natural gas to Amphenol, the Village of Sidney, and other local interests. No such plan exists with the Tennessee Gas Pipeline proposal from Kinder Morgan. Seward also echoed a demand made by the Delaware County Board of Supervisors that, should the project be approved, a formal agreement be executed to ensure that all local costs attributable to pipeline construction, be paid for by Kinder Morgan.

Constitution Pipeline Company announced the recipients of the 6th cycle of their Community Grant program, awarding 25 grants totaling more than $200,000 to benefit local communities within the counties traversed by the proposed pipeline project. Current grants were awarded to the Town of Afton, The Village of Bainbridge, The Bainbridge Historical Society, the Chenango County Blues Association, the Franklin Fire Department, the Delaware County Fire Fighters Association, the Delaware County Sheriff's Office & the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council of Delaware County.

Landowners & businesses along the I-88 corridor are now attending a second round of public meetings for a second pipeline proposal from Kinder Morgan, after the region already attended meeting for the Constitutition pipeline along the same pathway. Area Assemblyman Pete Lopez comments:

(Lopez 5-21-15)

The plans call for the Constitution Pipeline to provide access along the way to businesses & municiaplities, including Amphenol in Sidney, the Kinder Morgan pipeline initially calls for no such local offerings.

The State DEC today announced a new 15-day public comment period on the re-submitted Water Quality Certificate application for the proposed, federally regulated Constitution Pipeline. Public comments on the proposed project will now be accepted until close of business on Thursday, May 14. Those who submitted comments during the first comment period which ended February 27, 2015 do not need to resubmit their comments. Written comments should be submitted to the DEC Division of Environmental Permits, 625 Broadway, 4th Floor, Albany, 12233. or email to dec.sm.constitution@dec.ny.gov. Copies of the documents can be viewed online at constitutionpipeline.com. Printed copies are available at libraries in Afton, Bainbridge, Franklin, Sidney, Deposit & Oneonta

The Constitution Pipeline approval process inches closer to allowing Williams energy to go forward with the controversial pipeline proposal. Area Assemblyman Pete Lopez said that the pipeline proposal weighs heavy on his constituents minds:

(Lopez 2-26-15)

Plans call for the construction of the natural gas pipeline to begin this summer, it would pass through Broome, Delaware & Schoharie counties locally from Pennsylvania to the Northeast states.

The State DEC extended the public comment period on the draft permit for the proposed Constitution Pipeline and an upgrade to the Iroquois Wright Compressor station in Schoharie County by an additional 28 days.  Public comments will now be accepted until Friday, February 27.  Written comments should be submitted to: DEC – Division of Environmental Permits, 625 Broadway, 4th Floor, Albany, NY  12233. Copies of the documents can be viewed online at constitutionpipeline.com,  Printed copies are available at the Libraries in Afton, Bainbridge, Franklin, Sidney & Deposit.

The Constitution Pipeline will be the topic of the 3rd DEC hearing this week, tonight at 6:00 pm at the SUNY Cobleskill Bouck Hall Theater. The pipeline would run form northeast Pennsylvania through the southern tier to Schoharie County to deliver natural gas into the northeast if approved.

The State DEC extended the public comment period on the draft permit for the proposed, federally regulated Constitution Pipeline, as well as the upgrade to the Iroquois Wright Compressor station in Schoharie County, by an additional 28 days. Public comments on the proposed project will be accepted through Friday, February 27th at 5:00PM. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission was responsible for conducting an environmental review of the project; they issued a final Environmental Impact Statement in October. People can provide verbal or written comments at the public meetings tonight at 6:00 PM in Oneonta at SUNY Oneonta Lecture Hall IRC #3, or Wednesday night at 6:00 PM in SUNY Cobleskill’s Bouck Hall Theater.

The Constitution Pipeline will be the topic of the 2nd DEC hearing this week on that subject, tonight at 6:00 pm at SUNY Oneonta Lecture Hall IRC #3. Officials with the parent company are looking to construct the pipeline & they hope to begin work in the spring on the project, which will transport natural gas from northeast Pennsylvania to Schoharie County. The pipeline would pass through portion of Broome, Delaware & Chenango Counties if approved.

The first of the DEC hearing on the proposed Constitution Pipeline will be held today in Binghamton. The hearing begins at 6:00 PM at the East Middle School Auditorium at 167 East Frederick Street in Binghamton, another hearing will be held Tuesday in Oneonta and Wednesday in Cobleskill.