NY Attorney General Opposes Pipeline Request

New York's Attorney General is opposing a company's request to cut trees along its proposed pipeline route, citing the lack of a State water quality permit and other objections. Constitution Pipeline Company submitted a request to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last week seeking permission to cut trees along the 124-mile shale gas pipeline right-of-way from Pennsylvania to Upstate New York. The company said tree-cutting has to be finished by March 31, 2016 to avoid harm to birds and bats. The federal agency approved the pipeline in December 2014 with certain conditions, including a water quality permit from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Attorney General Eric Schneiderman asked FERC Thursday to deny permission to start work until the State water quality permit is issued. No timetable has been given for a decision on the State permit.