UDC Opposes Proposed High-Power Lines Along River
By Peter Becker
UPPER DELAWARE - The Upper Delaware Council (UDC) is going on record opposing a revamped plan for high voltage transmission lines that would be strung high on towers along the railroad right-of-way, very much in view from the scenic Delaware River.
New York Regional Interconnect (NYRI), Inc., based in Albany, NY, has proposed the transmission corridor as a means of moving energy from power plants in the north and west to the greater New York City area where power is in great demand. In 2003 a similar proposal was made by a firm known as Pegasus, out of Toronto. In that plan, however, UDC received assurance from Pegasus' former president, Richard Muddiman, that the lines would lay buried along the right of way of the Norfolk Southern Railroad.
Muddiman is now president of NYRI, which is believed to be an entirely separate concern. William Douglass, UDC Executive Director, expressed concern that the transmission lines will be carried on towers, said to be less expensive than burying them. The towers are expected to be 115 feet high, considerably taller than Pegasus first proposed.
NYRI has purchased from Pegasus the rights to run the utilities. Costing approximately $1 billion, NYRI must submit two optional plans to the New York Public Service Commission. One route is along the railroad near the river; the other is more inland through Sullivan County, said to be along the Millennium Pipeline route.
UDC is mainly taking a stand against the proposal as above ground, high voltage transmission lines are contrary to the River Management which UDC oversees. That Plan, adopted by Congress, is in place to protect the integrity of the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River (UDSRR), a 73.4 mile corridor included in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Federal legislation was passed in 1978 designating the Upper Delaware.
Douglass commented that unlike the Pegasus administration, the NYRI appears to be better prepared and has been more forthcoming with information. A map showing the two routes and more information on the project is found at the company web site, www.nyri.us. Public hearings will be required, which will be announced.
Thursday night of last week, the UDC directed staff to compose a letter objecting to the plan. This Tuesday, Douglass and David Forney, Superintendent, UDSRR National Park Service, plan to travel to Albany to visit the New York Public Service Commission, to learn more about the application process.
The Wayne Independent April 11th, 2006 |
