Tusten passes resolution opposing Highland Compressor

Posted 8/21/12

NARROWSBURG, NY — At the recessed Town of Tusten meeting on February 17, Doctor Larysa Dyrszka gave a presentation about the impacts of natural gas compressor stations prior to the town board …

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Tusten passes resolution opposing Highland Compressor

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NARROWSBURG, NY — At the recessed Town of Tusten meeting on February 17, Doctor Larysa Dyrszka gave a presentation about the impacts of natural gas compressor stations prior to the town board voting on a resolution opposing the proposed compressor station in the Town of Highland.

Dyrszka gave the same presentation that she previously did at the Sullivan County Legislature on February 11, which can be read in last week’s River Reporter and online. Dyrszka is a former pediatrician and currently resides in Bethel, not far from the proposed Highland compressor. Millennium Pipeline bought 80 acres from the Eldred Preserve for the proposed site, which sits near both Town of Bethel and Town of Tusten.

The project must be approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Committee (FERC), and Dyrszka said this agency operates at the federal level, not the state level, so there are different policies in place than for state approval or local approval. Thus, though Highland and Tusten both have zoning laws that prohibit compressor stations, Dyrszka said she thinks that FERC can supersede local zoning laws.

The resolution calls for an environmental review and health impact statement. Dyrzska said she and a group of medically trained volunteers will also do a baseline study of the area in the spring.

After her presentation, Kathy Michell said she had information for the board about compressor stations. She said she has experience with such operations and works with the Department of Environmental Conservation, and that compressor stations take two years to be reviewed and aren’t constructed “in the middle of the night.” The board agreed she could give a presentation at the next regular town meeting.

Just as the resolution was about to be voted on, Councilman Ned Lang said he believes it should be tabled until the board listens to Michell speak and hears “the opposing side.” He said he believes that some statements presented by the Tusten Energy Committee and Dr. Dyrszka are not true, and called Dyrszka’s presentation “conjecture.” Further, he stated that he works in the environmental business (EnviroVentures, which does waste removal), and that there are strict regulations and no signs of negative health impacts.

Supervisor Carol Wingert declined Lang’s suggestion to table the resolution. Further, she said she “respectfully asks” Lang to abstain from voting, since he publically stated that he and his company benefits from such industry and it is a conflict of interest. Lang vehemently denied that request. He also said that if they did not table the vote until the next meeting, then he would vote “no.” The vote occurred and the resolution passed, with Lang voting against it.

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