Federal regulators have denied opponents’ arguments against a proposed natural gas storage facility near Watkins Glen.
Arlington Storage Company wants to build two natural gas storage facilities next to Seneca Lake. Arlington is a subsidiary of Houston-based Crestwood Equity Partners. One of the storage facilities would hold natural gas and the other is for liquefied petroleum gas, or LPG. The federal government is reviewing the natural gas project.
Gas Free Seneca is a local group opposing the project. They have questioned whether the salt caverns that will hold the natural gas are structurally sound and whether it’s safe to store gas right next to Seneca Lake.
Last year, federal regulators found that the caverns can safely hold the gas. Arlington was later given a go-ahead to begin construction and Gas Free Seneca appealed that ruling.
In a decision released last eek, the regulators said that the appeal was filed late — 13 minutes after the deadline. They also argued that Arlington’s application was complete and the project can be done safely.
