The former CNG Transmission Station on Ellis Hollow Creek Road, now owned by Dominion.
(Photo: Nick Reynolds)
The Town of Dryden said it has suspended the storm water pollution prevention plan approval and building permits for Dominion Energy's Borger Compressor Station in the Ellis Hollow neighborhood.
The town suspended the permits when it was notified Dominion would be making amendments to its plans for the upgrades at Borger as part of the New Market Pipeline Project.
The town said it was told the work will require Dominion to seek further approvals from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission because Borger is a natural gas compressor station which is part of an interstate pipeline regulated by FERC.
Frank Mack, the communications project manager for Dominion, said the changes are no longer being requested and Dominion intends to proceed with the original approved plan.
“After a brief meeting earlier this week, the New Market Project team re-examined its construction activities at Borger Station and determined that changes to the project are not required," Mack said in a statement. "We intend to continue construction of the project as originally designed and as currently permitted, and we will not be requesting any changes.”
Town of Dryden Supervisor Jason Leifer said officials from the town will be meeting with officials from Dominion at the Borger station on Tuesday, May 30, to discuss the project. He also said on Friday the SWPPP approval and building permits are still suspended.
In addition, the Town of Dryden will require Dominion to apply for an amended Special Use Permit and go through Site Plan Review. The purpose of the SUP and Site Plan process will be to ensure that any impacts on the neighborhood are properly mitigated according to a release by the town.
Dominion hopes to add 33,023 horsepower of compression to the existing state pipeline transmission system, which includes the Borger Compressor Station and a station in Horseheads. The project will allow the delivery of additional supplies of natural gas to National Grid distribution areas upstate to meet the growing consumer demand for the fuel. The project’s total cost is expected to be about $159 million.
At the Dryden station, Dominion is adding three microturbines to increase electrical output and two gas cooling stations.
The divisive project has been met with resistance from local residents and environmental groups, including Mothers Out Front and Walter Hang's Toxics Targeting.