News
Attorney General, in formal filing, says FERC must reconsider Broadwater in light of New York denial
By Attorney General's office
Apr 17, 2008 - 1:04:00 PM

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal today announced that, in light of New York’s Broadwater denial, he has filed a supplemental request to the federal government that it reconsider and reject its grossly flawed approval of Broadwater.

On April 3, Blumenthal requested a rehearing of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) approval of the proposed Broadwater project because it fails to meet the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements, and numerous critical facts about Broadwater are still unknown.

Since Blumenthal’s initial request, New York Department of State (NY DOS) ruled April 10 that Broadwater is inconsistent with its Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) for several reasons.

In light of New York’s decision, Blumenthal said FERC reconsideration is imperative because FERC may not approve a project without a consistency determination under CZMA and New York’s decision demonstrates conclusively that the Federal Environmental Impact Study for Broadwater is fundamentally flawed.

“FERC is mindlessly adrift and completely alone in lawlessly supporting Broadwater,” Blumenthal said. “We’re asking FERC to heed New York and halt Broadwater. New York’s rejection requires FERC’s reversal. FERC’s illogical and illegal approval must be abandoned after New York’s responsible recognition that alternatives to Broadwater are better, safer and saner.

“FERC’s environmental analysis is illegally and embarrassingly inadequate compared to New York’s well-researched rejection. New York has correctly concluded that Broadwater could wreck Long Island Sound, endanger public safety, disrupt navigation, and degrade our quality of life. We demand FERC’s reconsideration and rescission of its own approval.”

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