Unions tell FERC Constitution would mean jobs

4/1/2014

By Patsy Nicosia

Unions tell FERC Constitution would mean jobs

If Monday's FERC hearing on Pipeline Constitution's DEIS had colors, they'd be orange and green.
And maybe black and white.
Orange for the dozens of union members who argued the proposed 125-mile natural gas pipeline would bring badly-needed jobs and economic growth.
Green for the environmental activists convinced it would be a ticking time-bomb.
And black and white for a Cobleskill dairy family caught in the middle.
Deadline for comments on Constitution's draft environmental impact statement is April 7-though FERC officials said they'll try to include any latecomers.
Monday's hearing at Cobleskill-Richmondville High School packed the auditorium with more than 500 people.
Of those, 100 signed up ahead of time to speak.
For the first time in the process, proponents of the pipeline were solidly represented as union members, including some from Schoharie County, turned out dressed in orange t-shirts to voice their support.
Lynn Wayman of Summit, who identified himself as an assistant fire chief and union member, was the first of those to taker the mic.
The pipeline, he said, "would mean a lot of work that's needed for a lot of our trade."
Other union members echoed those sentiments.
Jeff Stark, president of the Greater Capital Region Building and Construction Trades, said the construction industry has been hit hard.
"These are jobs we need. We're talking about 1,300 construction workers who won't worry about how to feed their families," he said.
Pete Sterns, another union member, agreed.
"I understand the emotion in this room and I share your commitment to this community," he said.
"Our members live here too, They're raising their families here. They care about this community and this project."
Even Montgomery County backs the pipeline.
Andrew Santillo, who works for that county's Executive Office, said they believe Constitution's DEIS "appropriately balances both economic and environmental issues" and will help put people to work.
At least half of the auditorium remained skeptical of that claim, however.
Dianne Sefcik of Westerlo, who has both the Iroquois and Tennesee Gas pipelines in her backyard, said the DIES is "so flawed, so incomplete, so biased in favor of the gas industry, that FERC should recuse itself."
Bob Nied, who pointed out that he's a retired 35-year union member, said the Center for Sustainable Rural Communities, created in part to support local art and culture, has done nothing bur focus on the pipeline for the last 18 months as they've "listened to stories of bullying and intimidation on the part of landmen, pitting neighbor against neighbor, family member against family member.
"I've grown emotionally weary...I suspend my pride and I beg you" not to approve this.
Capital Region BOCES board members and students spoke out against Constition's plans to run the pipeline across the Schoharie campus.
"No amount of money is worth the risk to our students," said Brian Sherman, who's also superintendent at Schoharie Central School.
The pipeline could jeopardize the school's very successful programs, he said; parents are already talking about not sending their children there if the pipeline is built.
Three generations of the Stanton family testified that the pipeline, which would run through the middle of their Cobleskill dairy farm, subject them to fines from DEC, and force them to cancel expansion plans, would but them out of business and leave their five employees without jobs.
"With the pipeline, that expansion won't happen," said Kayla Stanton, a senior at C-R, who's been designing a new milking parlor and calf and heifer facility for the farm and plans to study ag at SUNY Morrisville in the fall.
"Where is the future for me on the farm?"