Applicant:
Iroquois Gas Transmission System (Iroquois)
LP One Corporation Dr Suite 600
Shelton, CT 06484
Project:
Iroquois Enhancement by Compression (ExC) Project
DEC Application IDs:
3-1326-00211/00001 (Dover Compressor Station)
4-1922-00049/00004 (Athens Compressor Station)
Project Locations:
Dover Compressor Station, 186 Dover Furnace Road (Co. Route 46), Dover Plains, NY 12522
Athens Compressor Station, 915 Schoharie Turnpike (Co. Route 28), Athens, NY 12015
Project Description and Background:
The Iroquois Enhancement by Compression Project (Iroquois ExC Project) includes the addition of 12,000 horsepower (hp) of new compression and associated facilities at the existing Iroquois Dover Compressor Station located at 186 Dover Furnace Road in Dover Plains and the addition of 12,000 hp of new compression and associated facilities at the existing Iroquois Athens Compressor Station located at 915 Schoharie Turnpike in Athens. The Iroquois ExC Project also includes upgrades at the Milford and Brookfield Stations in Connecticut. The Iroquois ExC Project is designed to provide a total of 125,000 Dekatherms per day (“Dth/d”) of incremental firm natural gas transportation service to two existing customers of Iroquois, Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. (Con Ed) and KeySpan Gas East Corporation d/b/a National Grid (National Grid).
On March 25, 2022, the Iroquois ExC Project received approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in the form of a Certificate issued under the Natural Gas Act (FERC Docket No. CP20-48). To proceed with construction in New York State, Iroquois needs two Air State Facility (ASF) permits from New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), one for each of the two compressor station upgrades. The Iroquois ExC Project also requires air permitting approval from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) for compressor station upgrades along the pipeline in Connecticut; this remains pending before CT DEEP.
NYSDEC is responsible for reviewing the Iroquois ExC Project’s applications for compliance with the air pollution regulations, including the Climate Leadership and Community Projection Act (Climate Act), Chapter 106 of the Laws of 2019, which considers greenhouse gas emissions and whether such emissions would interfere with the attainment of the statewide greenhouse gas emissions limits established in Article 75 of the Environmental Conservation Law.
The Iroquois ExC Project will result in additional greenhouse gas emissions, particularly due to downstream greenhouse gas emissions from the end-use combustion of the incremental natural gas capacity and would facilitate the expanded or continued use of fossil fuels through new infrastructure development. In cases where the Iroquois ExC Project would be considered inconsistent with those limits, NYSDEC must ascertain whether there is a need for the project, or if the project is otherwise justified under Section 7(2) of the Climate Act. Thus, as the New York State Department of Public Service (DPS) is responsible for overseeing utilities’ ability to provide safe and reliable gas service in New York State, on January 24, 2024, NYSDEC requested input from DPS (PDF) on whether there is a reliability need for the Iroquois ExC Project or if the project is otherwise justified. On February 26, 2024, DPS provided its assessment that the ExC Project (PDF) is necessary to ensure Con Edison's and National Grid's continued provision of safe, adequate, and reliable gas service to customers in the downstate region of New York State.
Prior Notice of Complete Application and Public Comment Periods
On December 28, 2022, NYSDEC issued a combined Notice of Complete Application, Availability of Draft Permits, Announcement of Public Comment Period, and Intent to Hold a Public Hearing, in the Environmental Notice Bulletin (ENB) commencing the public review and comment period for the referenced draft permit and associated application materials. More specific information on these draft permits can be found in the combined notice. On January 31, 2023, a public comment hearing was held. The written public comment period was open until February 22, 2023.
NYSDEC held an additional public comment period from February 28, 2024 to April 29, 2024 as an opportunity for the public to provide feedback on the New York State Department of Public Service’s reliability assessment (PDF), dated February 26, 2024.
NYSDEC issued a summary of the comments received (PDF) during the 2023 and 2024 comment periods with NYSDEC's responses.
Final Permit Decision
NYSDEC issued ASF permits for the Iroquois ExC Project compressor stations at Athens (PDF) and Dover (PDF) on February 7,2025. The issuance of the permits is based on a reliability need in accordance with the findings in DPS’ assessment, despite any inconsistency with or interference with the attainment of the Statewide greenhouse gas emission limits established in article 75 of the Environmental Conservation Law Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act and reflected in 6 NYCRR Part 496.
Document Availability:
Filed application documents, including the Mitigation Plan, are available for review at the Iroquois website.
Contact Person:
Karen Gaidasz, Director of Bureau of Energy Project Management
NYSDEC - Division of Environmental Permits
625 Broadway, 4th Floor, Albany, NY 12233-1750
Phone: (518) 402-9167, Fax: (518) 402-9168
[email protected]