State to conduct EIS for Pilgrim Pipeline

ALBANY – The State Department of Environmental Conservation and New York State Thruway Authority will jointly conduct an environmental impact review of the proposed Pilgrim Pipeline that would run from Albany to Linden, New Jersey.
Pilgrim Transportation of New York would like to construct two buried, parallel lines, one to carry crude oil southbound from Albany and the second parallel mainline to carry refined petroleum products – gasoline, diesel, heating oil and kerosene – northbound from Linden.
The state agencies have determined that there is a potential for significant adverse impacts associated with the construction, operation and maintenance of the pipeline.
Conor Bambrick, air and energy director for Environmental Advocates of New York said that as a matter of law, the state needs to conduct the review.
Bambrick said even though the governor wants to move the state completely
away from fossil fuels by 2050, the Pilgrim Pipeline company is “intent
on remaking Albany into ‘Oilbany,’ and continue to push a
project that communities along the route have rejected and that is completely
out of line with New York’s cleaner, healthier future.”
Sandra Kissam, acting chairwoman of Residents Against Pilgrim Pipelines,
said her organiztion was “relieved that the Pilgrim Pipelines proposal
will go through a full environmental review.” But, she said the DEC
and Thruway Authority “must thoroughly notify the public and provide
for hearings in many locations, over and above the legal requirements.”
Outreach should include not only those people who live near the Thruway,
but also motorists who use the highway,” Kissam said.
A little over 116 miles of the 170-mile lines would run through New York with 79 percent of that running along the Thruway’s right-of-way. The pipelines would be located in Albany, Rensselaer, Greene, Ulster, Orange and Rockland counties.