DOVER — The state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) recently held a public hearing on the Iroquois Enhancement by Compression (ExC) Project for the Dover compressor station on Dover Furnace Road in Dover Plains and the Athens, New York, compressor station.
Held online on Jan. 31, the meeting was conducted by Richard Sherman, DEC administrative law judge, and allowed preregistered participants to voice comments. Sherman mentioned that an extension was filed for comments, and they may now be made in writing until Wednesday, Feb. 22.
Dover Town Supervisor Richard Yeno, said that he wants answers to some of the questions that were posed as well, because whatever concerns Dover concerns him. He added that this proposal will be put through a process and that a project can be pushed by the federal and state governments, and can be supported by the Public Service Commission. When all the steps are completed, the process gone through, the planning and zoning boards have their say, and a vote is taken.
Several speakers were students at SUNY New Paltz, some pursuing degrees in environmental studies. Brianna Rodriquez said, “I am tired of seeing people in my community be subjected to the horrid effects of climate crisis that gas pipelines and substations have greatly contributed to, harmful substances like nitrogen, oxide and methane.”
Some noted they were grandparents, concerned about their grandchildren’s futures. Nevo Rivedo asked that the permit be denied because he wants his grandchild to inherit a livable world, adding that these compressor stations would place more burden on an already disadvantaged community such as Dover.
Eric Wood of New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) wanted the permit denied on the basis that New York state has a history of harming low-income communities of color throughout the state and claimed they are disproportionately burdened by pipelines, power plants and substations.
Laura Shindel, senior New York organizer for Food and Water Watch, felt that temperatures are hitting record highs in New York while having the longest period without snowfall in 50 years. Noting the floods in California, she added that these crisis spots impact people who have had very little to do with climate impact, and are mostly low-income people of color. She also stated that the compressor station in Dover is located immediately adjacent to a recognized disadvantaged community, “and we all know that pollution does not stay on one side of an imaginary line.”
Stancy Duhamel, who is affiliated with Ducks Unlimited and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, felt the monitoring should not come from the Dutchess County Airport in Poughkeepsie, because it has nothing to do with the topography of Dover or the area. Duhamel also asserted that, “We’re a disadvantaged community, as far as I am concerned, the entire Town of Dover is an environmental justice area because students from all over town are required to attend the middle school and the high school less than half a mile away.”
A public hearing will be held by the Dover Town Board at Dover Town Hall, 126 East Duncan Hill Road, Dover Plains, on Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 6:30 p.m. to seek public comment on a proposed local law to impose a temporary 180-day moratorium on the approval and installation of certain public utility infrastructure and facility installations.
Comments may be made until Thursday, Feb. 23, to Karen Gaidasz at -DEPEnergy@dec.ny.gov
‘Square Quilting painting' by ransomeAlexander Wilburn
