Millennium's Approved Pipeline Will Serve NY Markets

Staff

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued Millennium Pipeline Company approval on December 21 to construct its proposed 181.7-mile natural gas pipeline system. The FERC Order modifies an existing Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity issued in September 2002, by approving changes in the pipeline route and compression. The Millennium Pipeline will primarily be supplied by connections with the Empire State Pipeline at Corning, N.Y., local production, and storage locations in western New York. The mainline system traverses New York's Southern Tier and the lower Hudson Valley terminating at Ramapo in Rockland County, where it will interconnect with Algonquin Gas Transmission. Underlying the FERC's Order is a favorable Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS) received last month. Millennium will likely move forward to secure all remaining environmental permits, long-term financing and finalize its transportation agreements prior to actual construction. The Millennium Pipeline will serve markets along its route in the Southern Tier and lower Hudson Valley as well as providing essential service to the New York City markets through its pipeline interconnections. It is slated to go into service in November 2008.