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May 17, 2016

New York: Regulator Deals Blow to Residents Opposed to Gas Storage at Seneca Lake
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In upstate New York, residents opposed to the storage of natural gas in
underground salt caverns at Seneca Lake have been dealt a blow by
federal regulators. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has
extended a permit allowing a subsidiary of the Texas-based company
Crestwood Midstream another two years to expand its natural gas storage
facility in the salt caverns. Opponents of the plan say Seneca Lake
provides drinking water to 100,000 people in the heart of New York's
scenic wine country. More than 500 protesters have been arrested
protesting the gas storage plans, which they say could lead to a
disastrous leak and threaten public health. In New York City Monday,
more than 100 people rallied outside the shareholders meeting of Con
Edison to protest the utility's plan to jointly own the gas storage
facility. Seneca County farmer Jan Quarles invoked the recent methane
leak in California, where 100,000 tons of methane leaked from an
underground storage site.

Jan Quarles: "Does Con Ed shareholders and ratepayers really want this
risk? The methane leak in Porter Ranch, California, was a complete
disaster. It forced 5,000 people to evacuate. And So Cal Gas is being
sued for over $2 billion. New York cannot afford that."

Topics:Natural Gas & Oil Drilling Environment

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