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Case
01-F-1276 TransGas
Energy Systems, LLC TransGas Energy Responses to New York State Department of Public Service Staff Comments on Public Involvement Program Description in TGE’s Preliminary Scoping Statement SECTION 4.0 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PROGRAM 1. DPS Comment The material presented on
public involvement indicates that TGE has initiated its PIP with a
community presence. It is in
the process of establishing a local office and has set up a web site and
local/toll free telephone numbers. Initial
public contact efforts appear to have been made with a limited number of
community representatives by telephone and mail.
Many of these contacts seem to have met with opposition. Based on
the information provided, it appears that the applicant’s PSS has not
been prepared with direct input from the general public/stakeholders. TGE Response The PSS was prepared with direct input from the general public.
For example, the PSS proposes one or more options for waterfront
access at the Project site. This proposal is directly related to input received from our
preliminary meetings. In
addition, the architectural treatment for the initial artist rendering in
the PSS is responsive to a concern voiced in meetings that the power plant
must be compatible with the waterfront and the community. The statements in the PSS regarding some type of direct
community benefit program (Section4.1.3) are responsive to concerns voiced
at meetings as to whether and how the community would benefit. 4.1 Community Involvement Process 2. DPS Comment TGE should carry out outreach efforts to create public awareness of its proposal not only in areas within the immediate project area, but also in areas adjacent to it, i.e. across the river in Manhattan/New York City and surrounding communities in Brooklyn and Queens. Explain how this will be done. TGE Response TGE has begun this process by identifying critical areas of lower
Manhattan and adjacent communities in Queens that might either be affected
to some degree or would have an interest in the project. In Manhattan, notices about the first open house and availability of the
PSS were sent to Community Board #6, which is on the East River and whose
southern boundary is E 14th Street.
Since then, we have added the adjacent Community Board #3, also on
the East River but from E. 14th Street to the Lower East Side,
to our lists. We have also
added the local city council representatives – and in light of the
recent elections in NYC, will make any modifications to our lists as
necessary. Advertisements for
the Town Hall Meeting will also be run in two East Side newspapers. In Queens, we already have the adjacent Community Board #2 on our list.
We will add the newly elected council member as well. In Brooklyn, we have expanded our list to include a larger segment
of the Williamsburg community. Our
mailing list has expanded from approximately 6,000 to over 27,000, as
described in more detail in other responses below.
3. DPS Comment TGE should demonstrate the evaluation tools
it will use to determine the effectiveness of its public involvement
message. These tools (such as
attitudinal research, surveys, focus groups) should measure the public’s
awareness of the project and its status. TGE
Response Everyone who is aware of the project has responded to us via direct mail,
email, website and/or at the October 11th meeting.
At that meeting, we provided feedback questionnaires on the
effectiveness of the meeting as well as comment cards. Very few people
filled out feedback questionnaires, but most filled out comment cards or
spoke to the court reporter. Since
that meeting, we also have team members canvassing the neighborhoods,
handing out brochures and talking to residents and business owners in the
community. They are writing up their results, which will be put into our
monthly reports to DPS, and which results the team will use to modulate
its outreach methods. TGE will also explore
the use of surveys to determine the effectiveness of its public
involvement message. 4.1.1 Pre-Application Phase: Early Planning, Stakeholder
Identification and Informal consultation 4. DPS Comment Provide copies of all
educational materials developed for the project to date.
Consider publication of materials in Polish, Spanish and possibly
Yiddish - particularly relevant to the Williamsburg area.) TGE Response See attached. At the
October 11 Open House, copies of the educational materials displayed on
poster boards were handed out. A
brochure, a copy of which has been provided to Staff, was prepared in
English but offers translations on the cover in Polish and Spanish.
As the project develops, TGE will produce additional fact sheets on
key issues and offer translations in Polish and Spanish.
We are exploring whether a Yiddish translation is necessary. 5. DPS Comment Provide copies of all media coverage on the
project to date (press releases, new stories, paid advertisements,etc.) TGE Response See attached. We are also
awaiting publication of our Letter to the Editor of the Greenpoint
Gazette. 6. DPS Comment Provide project media plan
(complete list of all media outlets that will be used on an ongoing basis)
and the geographic areas each reaches. Outlets should also cover those
that serve the Non-English speaking communities (Polish, Spanish and
Yiddish, etc.) TGE Response TGE has provided a list of media outlets to DPS for notifications of
events. These are: 1.Greenpoint Gazette 2.The
Merchanteer 3.Nowy
Dziennik (Polish Daily News) 4.Waterfront
Week 5.Downtown
News 6.East
Side Resident 7.Our
Town (Manhattan's East Side) 8.
The Jewish Week and World 9.
El Diario 10.
Tygodnick Nowozorski 11.
Greenline 12.
Hoy Based
on responses (comments, attendance at last meeting, correspondence) to
date, the Greenpoint/Williamsburg community is bilingual in English and at
least one other language. Polish appears to be the most prevalent to this project. Now
that we have expanded our outreach to a larger area of Williamsburg, we
will evaluate the need to provide educational materials in Yiddish.
Despite the enormous Spanish speaking population of New York City,
we do no not have enough evidence yet that this project is affecting a
largely Spanish speaking population on either side of the East River . 7. DPS Comment Provide information
regarding specific outreach and involvement activities that TGE plans to
carry out to encourage public participation during the pre-application
phase. TGE Response Following a meeting at the Brooklyn Borough
President’s office, where members and
representatives of a number of key organizations were present,
TGE
contacted members of numerous groups and individual representatives of
community groups prior to submitting the PSS.
No one was willing to meet with us.
Now that the PSS has been released and we are receiving specific
comments on the preliminary plans, we will again reach out to those people
who refused to talk to us. In
addition, a TGE representative will be walking the Greenpoint/Williamsburg
neighborhood four days a week, handing out materials, informing people
about the project and attempting to identify groups or individuals with
whom to schedule meetings. We
are also sending our responses to the comments received at the Open House
to those that provided addresses. We
will post our responses to the PSS comments on the website, as well. 8. DPS Comment Explain how TGE will determine the number
and types of meeting formats (town hall, open house, etc.) to be held to
ensure optimal outreach to the public. TGE Response Our current plan is to hold larger, public meetings at critical
intervals of the project, for example: submittal of the application. In
between, we would meet with community and civic groups in smaller, less
formal settings. We held an open house format on October 11th. Given the
public expressions of opposition to the project prior to and during the
open house; and given the proximity of this meeting to the terrorist
attacks a month before that, TGE believes that the 100 or so people who
attended the meeting was a reasonable attendance.
Our next meeting will be publicized to a wider audience, will
include time for people to view the same displays that were presented at
the open house, and will be followed by a formal presentation and Q&A
period. Based on how many people attend and the overall response, we
will continue to refine our approach and determine the most effective way
to ensure optimal outreach. We
will evaluate its effectiveness in consultation with DPS to determine
future meeting formats. We are open to suggestions from DPS in this
regard. 9. DPS Comment Provide information about one-on-one and
group meetings that TGE arranged with community individuals/organizations
since filing the PSS. TGE Response As indicated above, we
encountered a lot of resistance to one-on-one and group meetings prior to
filing the PSS and holding our Open House.
Since then, we were able to meet with members of the main and
Brooklyn offices of the NYC Department of City planning to present the
project. (The meting took
place on November 9th). Their
perspective was instructive and they suggested other groups and sources of
groups to get in touch with (such as a Hispanic housing organization,
United Jewish Organization, and lists of merchant groups).
We are pursuing these. 10. DPS comment Explain how TGE is making
the public aware of its willingness to speak to established groups and
community. TGE Response We contacted dozens of groups prior to filing the PSS indicating our
willingness and desire to speak with them.
We reiterated this at the open house and will restate it at our
next public meeting scheduled for November 28th.
Since filing the PSS and holding the public meeting, TGE has held a
meeting with local New York City Planning Department Brooklyn office, as
indicated above. We are
preparing responses to comments based on transcript and comment cards from
the Open House. We will be distributing those shortly and will then
proceed with contacting individuals and organizations within the
community. Our website will be revised to provide an invitation to speak
one-on-one or to groups. In
addition, TGE’s neighborhood representative will attempt to identify
groups or individuals who would like to meet with us.
Our revised brochure will also include an invitation to meet. 11. DPS comment Explain how TGE will provide answers to the questions raised by stakeholders at community sponsored meetings as listed in the Summary of Questions Posed during Public Meetings in the Appendix, such as in a Q&A section on its web site, mailer, newsletter, etc. TGE ResponseWe are preparing responses to questions raised at the open house via comment cards, transcript, information card request and informal conversations. These will be mailed to attendees who requested copies of the transcript and posted on the website. We
will also mail responses to everyone who attended the meeting for whom we
have addresses. 12. DPS comment. Provide information
regarding how the general public will be offered an opportunity to
participate in the draft stipulation process. TGE Response TGE has already offered
an opportunity for the public to respond by providing the draft
stipulations as an attachment to the PSS.
The Task Force has submitted numerous comments to which TGE will
respond. In addition, TGE
will be circulating a revised draft of the stipulations, based on the
comments we have received to date. In
coordination with agencies, we will schedule a meeting specifically to
discuss the stipulations. TGE
proposes that notice of this meeting be sent to everyone who has requested
to be on the mailing list, as well as the service list in the PSS.
In addition, notice of the meeting will be posted on the TGE
website. 13. DPS comment Provide information about
the public and educational programs that TGE is considering coordinating
with New York City College, Brooklyn Business Library and Government
Library Services. TGE Response Contact will be made with these groups to see if there is any interest
in sponsoring an educational program about the Project. 4.1.2 PSS Distribution, Notice and Submittal Mailing
List and Database 14. DPS Comment Provide a copy of the current project mailing list (separate from the project’s service list). TGE Response.
This list was provided to the DPS under separate cover. 15. DPS Comment
Explain how residents of the Greenpoint and Williamsburg
communities directly surrounding the
proposed site have been targeted for the mailing list.
Include the criteria chosen to determine the area (radius from
project site). Provide plans for ongoing mailing list expansion and
stakeholder identification (besides meeting sign-in sheets and toll free
hot line/web site inquiries) such as purchasing zip code mailing lists,
paid media ads, fliers, post card or web site offer to be placed on
mailing list, etc. We note
that the mailing for the October 11 Open House meeting apparently was not
sent to Williamsburg addresses. TGE Response The mailing for the October 11 open house was sent to a limited number
of Williamsburg addresses, The mailer being sent out for the November 28th
town hall meeting is an expanded list of over 27,000 addresses that
includes Williamsburg and Greenpoint.
Within that number are 2,351 nearby residences in the four postal
carrier routes nearest the Project site. The direct-mail company proposed using the roll of voters who
participated in the 2000 presidential election. With respect to expanding the mailing list and stakeholder
identification, every newspaper ad that has been taken out invites people
to contact TGE by telephone, fax or via the web site. Furthermore, a brochure has been and continues to be
distributed. It has a
perforated response card, inviting the reader to respond and have their
name added to the mailing list and to receive a variety of information,
including an option for information in Spanish and Polish.
Future advertisements, mailers, and brochures will contain similar
invitations. In addition, the
web site invites people to contact TGE, and it will be revised to include
an invitation to be put on the mailing list. 16. DPS Comment Provide information as to
how residents of other areas adjacent to the proposed project area, who
may see themselves as “stakeholders” in the project, will be targeted
for the mailing list. TGE Response. See
response under 4.1 [DPS Question #2] Direct
Mail 17. DPS Comment Provide a copy of the
introductory letter/brochure/newsletter that this section states will be
mailed to Greenpoint and Williamsburg residents in each of the languages
in which it is prepared. How will this mailing list be assembled? Will bulk copies be supplied to libraries, community centers
and community board offices, etc.? If
so, which specific drop sites will be used? TGE Response The current brochure, a copy of which has been
provided to DPS, is being revised. It
will be provided to DPS when it is finalized.
We are mailing the brochure to the 2,351 residences along the four
nearest postal routes. In
addition, the brochure will be available at the town hall meeting. It will also be handed out to commercial establishments and
residences in the immediate project area.
Bulk copies will be supplied to the libraries identified on the
service list, as well community centers, churches, and synagogues.
This list will be expanded based upon the efforts made by the TGE
representative that will be walking the streets of Greenpoint and
Williamsburg, handing out brochures, and attempting to identify
stakeholders that are interested in meeting with Project personnel. 18. DPS Comment Please add the following DPS
and DEC staff representatives to all mailing lists: Dianne Cooper, Leigh
Walrath and Peter Seidman (DPS), and John Cole (DEC). TGE Response They have been added to the mailing list. Web
Site 19. DPS Comment On the Home Page of the web
site, a topic button for “Current Events” or “Calendar of Events”,
etc. should be added and maintained so that viewers find a timely posting
of the project’s upcoming outreach event(s) and project milestones. TGE Response TGE agrees with this suggestion and such a section is being added to the
web site. 20. DPS Comment Provide information as to when the web site will include the document, Frequently Asked Questions & Answers. TGE Response TGE expects to add the FAQ to the web site no later than November 21,
2001.
21. DPS Comment
Explain how the availability of the web site will be publicized on an
ongoing basis. TGE Response
The availability of the web site has been and will continue to be
announced in each advertisement taken out
for the
Project; in the current and revised brochures; and will be included in
future mailings by TGE. It
will also be
announced at the town hall meeting and all subsequent public meetings. 22. DPS Comment Discuss plans to add
additional materials to the web site. TGE Response TGE intends to post on the web site all
comments received on the PSS, as well as our responses (without
attachments). We will update
frequently asked questions and schedule of events.
We will post each revision of the stipulations.
Subsequently, we will post the DEC and Article X applications. Hot
Lines 23. DPS Comment Discuss how the local and toll free telephone and fax numbers will be publicized on an ongoing basis. TGE Response
The local and toll free telephone and fax numbers have been and will
continue to be publicized alongside, and in the same manner as, the web
site. See response to DPS Web
Site Comment 21 above. Onsite
Office 24. DPS Comment When will the onsite office
be staffed and open to the public? TGE Response
We expect that the office will be staffed and open to the public, by appointment, by November 15, 2001. 25. DPS Comment Provide the onsite
office’s telephone number, hours, staffing pattern, etc. TGE Response
TGE’s representative will be in the community and at the office four days per week, and will be available to meet with members of the public at the office by appointment. The telephone numbers are the same as has been presented in the PSS and in all the advertisements. 26. DPS Comment Provide information as to
how its availability will be publicized on an ongoing basis. TGE Response
The availability of the office will be publicized on the same basis as
the web site and telephone numbers, as described above. Formal
Document Repositories 27. DPS Comment Identify the specific libraries in the Greenpoint-Williamsburg area where the PSS is currently available besides the onsite office and Brooklyn Borough Hall. Provide information as to how this availability will be publicized on an ongoing basis. Discuss the steps that have been taken with the libraries to ensure that the PSS (and application) will be made easily accessible to the public and kept up to date. TGE Response Currently, the PSS is available at the following libraries in the Greenpoint-Williamsburg area: · Greenpoint Branch, Greenpoint · Williamsburg Branch, Williamsburg Copies are also
available at the Central Branch and Business Libraries of the Brooklyn
Public Library in the Grand Army Plaza. Additional libraries
will be identified and added to the list, as appropriate. The availability of the PSS and application at libraries will
be publicized on the website and announced at all public and private
meetings. 28. DPS Comment TGE should also consider repositories at a public library and a community board office in Manhattan and in Queens adjacent to the project area to serve as a repository of the PSS (and application). Provide information as to how these additional repository sites will be publicized. TGE Response We will select repositories in Manhattan and Queens and report back to
DPS. We will evaluate any
response we get to our expanded mailers and advertisements in these areas
to determine how these repositories should be publicized. 29. DPS Comment Provide
copies to both staff and the NYSDPS Central Files Office of the public
notice that TGE published of its PSS filing as each actually appeared in
all newspapers used. TGE Response This is being provided
under separate cover. 30. DPS Comment Please provide staff with draft of application filing notice prior to publication. (Under separate cover, Staff will provide TGE with copies of other Article X Application Filing notices.) TGE Response.
We
will. DPS
Process Forum 31. DPS Comment After TGE has completed some initial public outreach including public meetings, distribution of written information (mailing, newsletter, etc.), Staff will make arrangements to hold an Article X process forum. Staff will coordinate with TGE on the choice of site as well as invitation mailing and paid advertisements to publicize the event. TGE will need to provide staff with its mailing list and service list on mailing labels. TGE Response. We
will. Continue
Face-to-Face Meetings 32. DPS Comment. Provide
more information as to how TGE will continue to reach out to the community
groups and publicize its willingness to speak to groups and organizations. TGE will continue to publicize its willingness to speak to groups and
organizations as described above in response to DPS comment #10.
As we expand our networks, we will ask individuals and groups we
speak to if they know of other groups who might be interested in hearing
about this project. TGE will
also discuss this further with DPS staff. 4.1.3
Application Phase: Preparation and Submittal of Article X
Application 33. DPS Comment. In
its application, TGE should document at all its PI activities in a PIP
appendix that includes: 1.
Detailed and quantifiable information regarding all meetings and
attendees; 2.
Reports of all of the applicant’s PIP activities carried out
during the early planning and pre-application phase; 3.
Details regarding plans for public information/ involvement
activities to be held during the Application phase (separate from the
formal application and intervenor process), implementation and
construction phases of the project; 4.
Copies of all educational materials developed for the project thus
far; 5.
Documentation of major media coverage since the beginning of the
project (press releases, news stories, paid advertisements, etc. (If press
releases are used to inform the public, copies of the actual press
clipping should be included in the Appendix to indicate that the release
reached the targeted group.); 6.
Public events/meetings, web site content, public educational
materials/project brochures, sample mailings, public communications; and 7.
Number of hits and information received from stakeholders on
project web site, info telephone line, etc. TGE Response.
TGE is compiling this information and will continue to compile it
throughout the pre-application process.
DPS will receive monthly reports summarizing this information. They will also be included in an Appendix to the Application. Continued
Outreach 34. DPS Comment See
comments in 4.1.3 number 3. TGE Response.
Same response as
above. Periodic
Distribution of Newsletters and Fact Sheets 35. DPS Comment Provide information regarding how often the newsletter will be published and methods of distribution (mail, web site, drop sites, etc.) TGE Response.
TGE would like to discuss this further with DPS staff. As we evaluate which methods of communication appear to be
most effective, we will continue to refine our methods. Public
Meeting/Open House 36. DPS Comment TGE states that “at least one public
meeting will be held following distribution of the PSS and before
finalizing the Stipulations and submitting the Application.”
This is out of order as it appears in the Application Phase,
instead of the Pre-Application Phase. The 1999 Article X Amendment made it
the applicant’s responsibility to make the public aware of the
stipulations and to offer meaningful opportunities for public
participation in the stipulation process - before filing the Application.
(A plain language version of the stipulations, posted on the project’s
web site and used as a handout when meeting with the public can be a
useful tool in helping stakeholders better understand technical
stipulations.) Please see comments in
Section 4.1.1, number 8. The
public’s opportunities to participate in the stipulation process should
be in addition to general project awareness.
It does not seem that “one public meeting following the filing of
the PSS and before finalizing the stipulations” would be adequate. TGE Response TGE
always assumed that more than one public meeting would be held, but during
the preparation of the PSS it was not possible to pinpoint the dates of
future meetings. We held a meeting at the Borough President’s office in the
pre-application phase, prior to submitting the PSS. We held a second meeting after filing the PSS.
We have a third public meeting scheduled for November 28th
and will schedule others at appropriate intervals and after the DPS
process forum. Media
Outreach 37. DPS Comment Please see comments in 4.1.1, number 2. TGE Response
TGE will continue to
provide copies of all media coverage on the project. Neighborhood
Presence/Community Benefits Programs 38. DPS Comment
Provide information regarding community’s response to TGE’s
offer of support of waterfront revitalization projects. TGE Response: There has been no
positive response to date, simply opposition. Coordination
with DPS
39. DPS
Comment It is requested that
TGE submit a written monthly PIP update and meet with staff
on a monthly basis to discuss its PIP efforts. TGE Response: We will. 4.1.4 Hearing and Decision Phase 40. DPS Comment
In the application filing, TGE should include specific plans as to how
it will continue its outreach efforts to keep community members who do not
choose to participate as parties or intervenors in the case informed of
project progress. The formal application review process does not take the
place of public involvement/information efforts. TGE Response: We will. 41.
DPS Comment TGE’s stated plan to distribute a fact sheet and explain the
intervenor status/funding is an excellent activity to be carried out in
the Pre-application Phase. Discuss how and when it will be carried out. TGE Response: The fact sheet will be
posted on the website and sent to a mailing list of persons who have
expressed interest in the project. 4.1.5 Post Certification Phase: Ongoing Public Participation
after the Article X Certification is issued 42. DPS Comment In its application, TGE should demonstrate how it plans to: 1.
Involve stakeholders during the Compliance and Implementation
phases of the project. 2.
Inform communities/stakeholders of its construction schedule prior
to and during the project’s construction phase. TGE Response: We will.
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