We’ve now written two posts addressing the jaw-dropping audacity of the corrupt New York Dept. of Environmental Conservation in their refusal to grant water crossing permits to a second major pipeline project (see Cuomo’s Corrupt NY DEC Blocks NFG Northern Access Pipeline Permit and NFG Calls Cuomo DEC Denial of Northern Access Pipe “Troubling”). The first project the DEC arbitrarily refused (due to political pressure from Cuomo) was the Constitution, one year ago (see NY Gov. Cuomo Refuses to Grant Permits for Constitution Pipeline). Williams, builder of the Constitution, filed a lawsuit. As we pointed out last month, a decision in that case is expected soon (see Constitution Pipeline Still Waiting on “Biggie” Court Decision). If the decision goes against the DEC with respect to the Constitution lawsuit, it has the power to reshape the relationship New York State has with federally approved pipeline projects and will likely bleed over to the NFG pipeline as well. Increasingly we are seeing chatter that New York has picked a fight with the wrong party–the federal government. Some are saying that a state-federal showdown is coming, and coming soon…
