Court sides with Orange County in Millennium lawsuit

GOSHEN – Orange County won a round against the Millennium pipeline in that company’s efforts to run a gas pipeline through county property.
Millennium argued that since it had received a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last November, their lawsuit against the county to acquire an easement over county property through eminent domain could proceed.
Supreme Court Justice Elaine Slobod disputed that in a decision praised by County Executive Steven Neuhaus.
“Our argument before the court is they need to show that they have all of their permits from FERC and all the other approving agencies before they do that,” Neuhaus said. “They said they didn’t. The court sided with us. We were right. That’s what this whole process is about; show us that you did it the right way, that it was legitimate; show us that got the proper permits, and that’s the way they are going to get it approved.”
Any other way, they are going to be met with legal roadblocks, Neuhaus warned.
The Millennium pipeline would ultimately connect to the CPV Valley Energy Center, which is under construction in Wawayanda.