Lindenhurst, New York – Today, Legislator Wayne Horsley (D-Babylon), Chairman of the Energy Committee, announced the introduction of legislation to continue Suffolk’s legal opposition to Broadwater.
Horsley introduced his resolution just one day after Shell Oil and TransCanada announced they would move forward and appeal New York State’s Coastal Zone Management Act decision to the U.S. Department of Commerce (USDOC). In supporting continued legal opposition Horsley argued that Suffolk must maintain vociferous legal opposition at relevant Federal levels so long as the Broadwater proposal has even one remaining legal appeal.
Horsley stated, “Our commitment to the Long Island Sound is resolute, and our legal team must continue to preserve our ‘rights-in-opposition’ to insure that the Federal government does not attempt to overturn the will of the people. As such, the legislature will consider the prudence of continued engagement and legal preparation before both FERC and the USDOC. None should believe that Broadwater’s backers are ready to just tuck tail and leave town, so we must be ready for future federal challenges.”
On Monday Shell Oil and TransCanada jointly announced that it had taken the first step toward appealing New York State Department of State’s decision to reject Broadwater. A spokesman for Broadwater also stated, “…That company officials were prepared for a years-long court battle if that’s what it takes to get their plant approved for a mid-Sound location north of Wading River.” Broadwater also took pains to highlight that there exists precedent for the Federal overturn of a state environmental decision by noting that in 2004 a federal agency had overturned the Connecticut’s rejection of the proposed Islander East gas pipeline.
Horsley concluded, “The Long Island Sound remains an estuary of national significance. That was a fact when Governor Paterson rejected Broadwater, and it remains fact today. Broadwater Officials just can’t seem to understand the significance inherent in that title, and how much the Sound means to Long Island residents. If Broadwater continues to push for industrialization of the Sound at the Federal level, we will continue to push back loud and clear. The Sound is not for sale.”
