D ANIEL P.

MCC OY
C OUNTY E XECUTIVE

C OUNTY OF A LBANY
O FFICE OF THE E XECUTIVE

P HILIP F. C ALDERONE , E SQ .
D EPUTY C OUNTY E XECUTIVE

112 S TATE S TREET , R OOM 900

A LBANY , N EW Y ORK 12207-2021
(518) 447-7040 FAX (518) 447-5589
WWW . ALBANYCOUNTY . COM

December 7, 2015
Robert L. Megna
Executive Director
New York State Thruway Authority
200 Southern Boulevard
Albany, NY 12201

Dear Mr. Megna:

I am writing in response to recent correspondence from the Thruway Authority declaring that the
Authority is seeking to assume lead agency status on the Pilgrim Pipeline Proposal under the
states Environmental Quality Review Act. As an involved entity, Albany County wishes to
express our opposition to the designation and would hereby request that that the Department of
Environmental Conservation be designated as lead agency for the Pilgrim project.
I believe that this is an appropriate designation for DEC due to several factors including the
statewide impact of the project, possible impact on the environment, including public water
supplies, aquifers and agricultural areas. I also would suggest that the DEC would be able to
conduct a comprehensive and transparent review of the proposal in light of DECs policies and
procedures in regard to environmental justice areas - not only in Albany County but across the
state. The additional review would require mandatory scoping under current DEC policy and
would afford the affected jurisdictions a chance to address any and all environmental justice
concerns in the process. Finally, the DEC would provide a thorough review of the proposal.
I hope that concerns I have expressed will help inform your decision making and that we can
work cooperatively on behalf of New Yorkers to advance the planning process.

Sincerely,

Daniel P. McCoy
Albany County Executive

Cc:

Federal Highway Administration

US Army Corps of Engineers
US Fish and Wildlife Service
US Department of the Treasury ATF
US Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety
Administration, Office of Pipeline Safety
NJ Department of Environmental Protection
NJ Department of Transportation
Pilgrim Transportation of New York