ELDRED, NY — Millennium Pipeline Company is not doing any physical preparation work for its proposed compressor station in Eldred just now. But that’s not because it’s waiting for the completion of a health study proposed by activists and local government officials, according to Millennium representative Michelle Hook. It’s because the company first needs to finish filing with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and has not received the necessary permits to begin work.

Millennium has agreed to pay for the health study, which is being initiated by the Sullivan County Legislature, but does not plan to alter its schedule in relation to it. Hook wrote in an email, “While the study is being done we will continue to submit paperwork to the FERC and pursue all necessary certificates. Halting this process at this juncture isn’t possible. Once we pre-filed for this project the clock started, and we have a timeline we have to adhere to. In addition, the compressor is one piece of a four-part project that is necessary, and those other pieces cannot be put on hold and the entire project must be submitted to FERC as one.

“However, because of the long filing process we are confident the study can be performed before FERC gives us any of our approvals, as certificates likely wouldn’t come our way till next fall at the earliest.”

Questions arose because of an article published in last week’s issue of The River Reporter, which quoted Town of Highland Supervisor Jeff Haas as saying Millennium had not only agreed to the town’s request for a health impact study but had agreed to stop the clock on the project pending completion of the study. However, Haas said this is not correct. Hass, who has recused himself from business regarding Millennium, said he did not comment on this matter.

Deputy Supervisor Jim Gutekunst said that at the meeting he, Gutekunst, explained that he had been advocating for Millennium to “stop the clock,” while the health study was carried out, which may account for the confusion. Millennium, he said, did not agree to stop forward progress on the compressor station.