PRESENT: Chair: M. Kaplowitz. Members: U. LaMotte; V. Pinto;

J. Maisano.

STAFF: Steve Bass; Rob Hoch; Charlotte Ryer, Sec’y.

Legislator Kay Carsky

ALSO PRESENT: Brent Archer, Richard Hall, Jr. (Columbia Gas); Jim O’Toole (Con Ed); Ed Hoffmeister (Dept./Plng.); Gudrun LeLash (FCWC); Marian Rose (CWCWC); Michelle Bonsteel (Dobbs Ferry); Bill Randolph (CEO); Irene Stalzburg (Friends/Marshlands); Hon. Linda Cooper (Supv.-Yrktwn); Hon. Clinton B. Smith (Supv.-New Castle); Joseph Moran (Yonkers City Hall); Jenine Tankoos (NYC/DEP); Katharine McLoughlin (NYLCV); Neal Rentz (No. Co. News).

The meeting was called to order at 3:37 p.m.. The minutes of April 13^th, were approved and accepted on the motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Maisano, with a vote of 3-0 (Legislator Pinto was out for the vote). Chair Kaplowitz then reviewed the schedule of upcoming meetings, noting that next week Commissioner Marvin Church and Deputy Commissioner Harry Stanton of the Department of Transportation, will attend the meeting to review the environmental issues of the Light General Aviation Facility.

Next, Chair Kaplowitz introduced Brent Archer of Columbia Gas to discuss the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed Millennium pipeline project. Mr. Archer explained that during 1998, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) generated numerous question relating to environmental issues, which took lots of effort and field work in order to supply the information requested for the draft of the DEIS. FERC issued the draft DEIS on April 16, 1999, which is now available for public review, and will be

ready for the comment deadline of June 7^th. Several Public Hearings are scheduled this month relating to the draft. The Hearing scheduled for May 18^th will be held in Yonkers, at Mark Twain Junior High School (Woodlawn Avenue). The County, through the Planning Department, will coordinate with the Environment Committee as one voice for that meeting. The DEIS does not give authorization for Columbia Gas to proceed with the pipeline, but it is an identification, in draft form, of the environmental issues that have evolved during the planning stages of the project. The DEIS concluded (in draft form) that the FERC feels that the project can be constructed with a minimal, short-term impact on the areas of concern, mentioned in the DEIS. Mr. Archer also emphasized that although Con Edison has not endorsed the project, they have been very accommodating to the field crews conducting the survey work. The DEIS also concludes that the power line right-of-way is the preferred route. In response to newspaper concerns considering the use of the trailway system as an alternate, Mr. Archer mentioned that the County was addressed regarding some very select areas where it might be preferable to the Con Ed right-of-way to give Columbia the opportunity to upgrade and improve the trail systems - no firm decision has been made yet (Mr. Archer showed photographs to the Committee members, showing other areas that had been upgraded in the same manner.)

Other questions in the DEIS were in regard to the Hudson River crossings, which there have been some key issues to consider, such as the impact on the sturgeon habitat, and the potential for other locations that might be feasible for the Hudson crossing. There is still a lot of studying underway. Columbia is continually looking for suitable routing areas with existing power line routes for the pipeline. Another area of consideration is along the Sprain Brook Parkway. Construction would close one (1) lane of the Parkway, and overnight working will be considered.

With no further business to discuss, on the motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m.