State gives thumbs down to pipeline plan
Natural gas line would terminate in Rockaway; as critics celebrate, utilty vows to reapply
BY BILL PARRY
New York State rejected
the application for the
controversial Williams
Pipeline, also known as
the Northeast Supply
Enhancement Project, the $1
billion pipeline that would
have transported fracked
natural gas from Pennsylvania
under New York Harbor
terminating just over three
miles off Rockaway Beach.
More than 60 elected
officials — including
City Councilman Costa
Constantinides, state
Senator Joseph Addabbo
and Comptroller Scott
Stringer — had announced
their opposition to the 24-
mile pipeline along with 250
organizations and nearly
20,000 who stand against the
project.
National Grid had warned
the pipeline was necessary
to provide guaranteed
service to new gas customers,
including Governor Andrew
Cuomo’s $1.18 billion Belmont
Park redevelopment plan.
Environmentalists warned
the project would prolong
dependence on fossil fuels
instead of moving towards a
clean energy future and that
construction would pollute
the waters by kicking up toxic
heavy metals in the sediment.
“As currently conceived in
the application, construction
of the NESE pipeline project
Sniffi ng problem comes along, time to ‘whippet’ good, pol says
BY MARK HALLUM
Queens State Senator
Joe Addabbo is taking a
stab at making a seemingly
innocent party appliance
available only to people
21 and over as teenagers
increasingly reported using
nitrous oxide to for its mindaltering
effects rather than
to fill party balloons.
Commonly known as
“whippets,” Addabbo cited
constituent complaints as
the reason for the legislation,
claiming canisters have
begun to litter his district.
“They have also become
a means of recreational drug
use, particularly among
younger New Yorkers, that
is projected to result in
water quality violations
and fails to meet New York
State’s rigorous water
quality standards,” the state
Department of Environmental
Conservation said in a
statement released on May 15.
“Specifically, construction
of the proposed project
would result in significant
water quality impacts from
the re-suspension of
sediments and other
contaminants, including
mercury and copper.”
Stringer called the decision
a major victory.
“We’ve been outspoken
in opposition to the pipeline
from the beginning, and I
am so proud of the coalition
of dedicated advocates who
refused to have their voices
drowned out be entrenched
interests,” he said. “The
fossil fuel industry learned
an important lesson, they are
no match against the people
of New York. When we fight
back, we win.”
The fight is far from over
because the DEC rejection was
“without prejudice” meaning
the Oklahoma-based Williams
Transco could reapply.
“The Department of
Conservation raised a minor
technical issue with our
application for water quality
certification,” Williams
Transco spokesman Chris
Stockton said. “Our team will
be evaluating the issue and
can lead to debilitating
health threats,” Addabbo
said. “By limiting the
purchase of these canisters
to those over 21, and
particularly to those who
have a legitimate purpose
for buying them, we can help
protect our children from
their intoxicating effects.”
According to a 2016 study
by the National Survey
on Drug Use and Health,
9.1 percent of Americans
have tried inhalants with
whippets available online
or at stores to buyers of all
ages.
Addabbo’s legislation
would impose civil fines
of up to $250 for retailers
who sell to minors as a
A state agency rejected the Williams Pipeline application in “major victory” for environmentalists
but the project is not dead in the water. Courtesy of Stop the Williams Pipeline Coalition
resubmitting the application
quickly. We are confident that
we can be responsive to this
technical concern, meet our
customer’s in-service date and
avoid a moratorium that would
have a devastating impact
on the regional economy and
environment.”
National Grid expressed
confidence that the project
will proceed on schedule and
be in service by 2021.
“Until we have greater
certainty around the project’s
State Senator Joseph Addabbo at a February 2018 press
conference. Photo: Mark Hallum/QNS
first offense and $500 per
transgression after that.
Associated with a number
of conditions afflicting the
application approval timeline,
we will continue to advise
all new commercial and
residential applicants that
our ability to provide firm
gas service is contingent on
the timely construction of
NESE,” a National Grid
spokeswoman said.
Opposition to the project
will continue, according
to Stringer.
“Today we celebrate. But
tomorrow we must get back to
work fighting for the urgent
nervous system, brain and
internal organs, huffing
nitrous oxide is mainly
associated with seizures,
action that our climate crisis
demands,” Stringer said. “We
must invest in renewable
energy, combat pollution,
develop pathways for green and
sustainable infrastructure,
and do everything in our
power to protect our people
and the planet for generations
to come.”
Reach reporter Bill
Parry by email at bparry@
schnepsmedia.com or by phone
at (718) 260–4538.
comas, severe frostbite
and sudden sniffing
death syndrome.
As the bill goes under
review by the Committee
on Consumer Protection,
the Assembly version of
the legislation is also going
through the same process.
“These piles of
used whippets in our
communities are not
only an eye sore, but may
indicate a significant
problem with nitrous oxide
abuse,” Addabbo said.
Reach reporter Mark
Hallum by email at
mhallum@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at (718)
260–4564.
TIMESLEDGER,QNS.COM MAY 24-30, 2019 3
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