DOE is taking a second look at the MidAtlantic designation for NIETC (and NYRI)

[mary]

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071205/NEWS/712050353
DOE weighs pleas for NYRI rehearing
By Victor Whitman


Times Herald-Record
December 05, 2007

Monticello -- The Department of Energy made a minor move yesterday that
created a flurry of excitement among opponents of the New York
Regional Interconnect power lines proposed to slice through the Hudson
and Catskills region.

Initial wire reports indicated that federal energy officials were
planning to re-examine a decision to make most of the state --
including Orange and Sullivan counties -- a National Interest Electric
Transmission Corridor. Projects proposed for these corridors, such as
the 190-mile long NYRI project, are needed to ease transmission
congestion, the DOE ruled in October. Thus, the feds could overrule
state approval.

But early reports yesterday that the DOE was going to hold another
hearing on the matter turned out to be premature.



A top official merely issued a letter indicating that the DOE would
consider all the requests for a rehearing.

The DOE, as required by law, had a deadline to put everyone on notice
that officials were considering these requests.

"Last month, various parties requested that the Department review this
designation," DOE spokeswoman Julie Ruggiero wrote by e-mail.

"In order to give these requests full consideration, DOE will take
additional time to thoroughly evaluate the basis of their requests."

Still, for the opponents who packed a hearing in Manhattan in May to
overwhelmingly oppose the power line, it seemed like good news.

"I think they are saying we are going to give ourselves more time to
think this over and we feel that is exactly what they ought to be
doing," said Gail Heatherly, a director of Sayno2NYRI.