WCDO Radio News

The Company that has proposed the Constitution Pipeline is filing a lawsuit after the state DEC rejected the paperwork that was submitted for the plan. Area Assemblyman Cliff Crouch told WCDO News that several area companies were promised low cost natural gas through this plan, and now they are in limbo:

(Cliff Crouch 6-22-16)

Crouch said that the lawsuits will likely take 2 or 3 years to complete, hopefully the companies like Amphenol, Acco & Raymond will be able to operate at current levels until the Pipeline is approved & built.

Constitution Pipeline Company has appealed the State DEC’s refusal to grant the company’s request for a Section 401 Water Quality Certification under the Clean Water Act. The appeal was filed with the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, they contend that the refusal is arbitrary and capricious and constitutes an impermissible challenge to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, which was issued in December 2014. The company also filed an action with the U.S. District Court seeking a declaration that the State of New York’s authority to exercise permitting jurisdiction over certain other environmental matters is preempted by federal law.

State Lawmakers are looking to pass a constitutional amendment to be able to strip convicted lawmakers like Sheldon Silver & Dean Skelos, of their pensions. Assemblyman Cliff Crouch explains:

(Crouch 5-17-16)

Crouch said that a constitutional amendment needs to pass the legislature 2 years in a row and be passed by voters in order to take effect.

The Constitution Pipeline denial by New York State DEC could have severe ramifications to the economy of the Southern Tier. Delaware county IDA Chairman Jim Thompson Commented:

(Jim Thompson 4-28-16)

Constitution pipeline officials stated a desire to appeal the New York State ruling to a federal court.

The New York State Court of Appeals ruled today that DNA evidence presented by prosecutors in a trial, must be accompanied at trial by at least one analyst involved in the critical stages of the processing of the DNA Evidence used, or who independently analyzed the raw data. The Court of Appeals ruled 4-3, that DNA evidence otherwise violates a defendant's constitutional right to confront an accuser. The ruling follows a controversial Brooklyn trial where DNA evidence was presented & eventually convicted a man, who will now get a new trial.

The Department of Environmental Conservation won't issue a water quality permit for the Constitution Pipeline. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the pipeline project in 2014 contingent on the state permit, which is required by the federal Clean Water Act. Constitution Pipeline Company officials will appeal the state decision to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Constitution Pipeline Company announced today that they are changing the projected start of service from the 4th quarter of this year to the 2nd half of 2017. The company says it won't be able to complete tree-clearing before the end of March; they have completed tree-felling along the Pennsylvania leg of the project, New York work will not begin until state regulators issue a water quality certification. The Constitution Pipeline would be a 124-mile of natural gas pipeline from Pennsylvania through the southern Tier for distribution into the New England markets.

A Rally was held Saturday at the River Club in Afton with about 300 + Constitution Pipeline supporters. Assemblyman Cliff Crouch attended:

(Crouch 1-25-16)

The Constitution pipeline is expected to traverse the southern tier along the I-88 Corridor from Pennsylvania into the New England markets, with local availability to Am phenol in Sidney among others, along the route.

Delaware County Sheriff’s Office today announced the receipt of a grant of $17,000 from Constitution Pipeline. The grant will be used to support the purchase of Polaris Rangers for Emergency First Responders. The support to the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office is part of a community grant program available to New York counties that host Constitution Pipeline. Delaware County Sheriff’s Office is one of over 100 community organizations in New York receiving a total of more than $1.9 million in seven rounds of grants. The Funding will be used to purchase Polaris Rangers for emergency response to isolated areas and for tracking missing persons in rural landscapes.