millennium pipeline pre-filing for eastern system upgrade project

www.millenniumpipeline.com

One Blue Hill Plaza, 7th FloorPost Office Box 1565

Pearl River, NY 10965 845.620.1300 Voice | 845.620.1320 Fax

January 19, 2016 Ms. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 888 First Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20426

Re: Request for Pre-Filing Review Millennium Pipeline Company, L.L.C.

Eastern System Upgrade

Dear Ms. Bose:

Pursuant to Section 157.21(b) of the regulations of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“Commission”),1 Millennium Pipeline Company, L.L.C. (“Millennium”) hereby requests approval from the Director of the Commission’s Office of Energy Projects to commence the pre-filing review process with respect to Millennium’s proposed Eastern System Upgrade (“Project”). Representatives of Millennium met with Commission Staff to discuss the Project and Millennium’s use of the pre-filing review process. Upon completion of the pre-filing review, Millennium will file an application with the Commission for authorization to construct the Project under Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act (“NGA”).2

The Project consists of the addition of a new compressor unit at Millennium’s existing Hancock Compressor Station; the construction of a new compressor station in Sullivan County, New York; the installation of approximately 7.3-miles of pipeline between Millennium’s existing Huguenot and Westtown meter stations; and the addition of facilities at Millennium’s existing Ramapo meter station. The Project will permit Millennium to transport an incremental volume of approximately 200,000 dekatherms per day (Dth/day) of natural gas from Millennium’s Corning Compressor Station to an existing interconnect with Algonquin Gas Transmission, L.L.C. located in Ramapo, New York. All of the new capacity is subscribed under executed precedent agreements for long-term, firm contracts. The Project facilities have been designed to maintain current operating pressures at intermediate delivery points following the construction of the Project, to address increased customer demand on Millennium’s system during the summer months, and to ensure continued deliveries to interconnecting pipelines following pressure increases on those systems.

1 18 C.F.R. § 157.21(b) (2014). 2 15 U.S.C. § 717f(c) (2012).


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Pursuant to Section 157.21(d) of the Commission’s regulations,3 Millennium provides the following detailed Project information in support of its request:

1. A description of the schedule desired for the project including the expected application filing date and the desired date for Commission approval.

To satisfy its commitments to its shippers under the precedent agreements that support the construction of the Project, Millennium is proposing an in-service date of September 1, 2018 for the Project. To complete the proposed Project and place the facilities into service by this date, Millennium anticipates filing a certificate application for the Project under Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act in July 2016 and requests that the Commission issue an order approving the Project by July 31, 2017.

Millennium requests that the Commission set a schedule for review of the Project consistent with the following milestones:

Schedule Milestone

January 19, 2016 Pre-filing request submitted

February 5, 2016 File initial drafts of Resource Report 1 and alternatives

April 27, 2016 File Drafts of Resource Reports 1 through 12

July 29, 2016 Submit Section 7(c) Application

July 31, 2017 Requested date for FERC Final Order

September 1, 2017 Commence Project construction

September 1, 2018 Place Project facilities into service

2. For LNG terminal facilities, a description of the zoning and availability of the proposed site and marine facility location.

No LNG terminal facilities are related to or proposed as part of the Project.

3. An explanation of why the prospective applicant is requesting to use the Pre-Filing process.

Millennium is seeking to participate in the Commission’s pre-filing review process to facilitate the early identification of affected parties and environmental issues and the timely resolution of concerns in consultation with Commission Staff and Project stakeholders. Comments received from the Commission Staff on Millennium’s draft Resource Reports will minimize the number of technical and environmental data requests necessary once Millennium’s certificate application is filed. The pre-filing review process will also establish a coordinated schedule for a complete and thorough

3 18 C.F.R. § 157.21(d).


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environmental review, which will enable Millennium to achieve its planned in-service date of September 1, 2018 for the Project facilities.

4. A detailed description of the project, including location maps and plot plans to scale showing all major plant components that will serve as the initial discussion point for stakeholder review.

The Project will involve the addition of an approximately 22,400 horsepower compressor unit at Millennium’s existing Hancock Compressor Station, the construction of a new approximately 22,400 horsepower compressor station located about equidistant between Millennium’s existing Hancock and Minisink compressor stations, installation of approximately 7.3 miles of 36-inch pipeline parallel to Millennium’s existing 24 inch line between its Huguenot and Westtown meter stations and the addition of facilities at Millennium’s existing Ramapo meter station. The general location of proposed facilities is illustrated on the map provided as Attachment 1. As part of the pre-filing review process, Millennium is committed to continuing to work with stakeholders to address their concerns regarding the Project facilities. As Millennium continues these ongoing efforts to refine and finalize the exact locations of the various Project facilities, updates to the map will be submitted to Commission Staff. The Project will be designed to transport approximately 200,000 Dth/day of natural gas from Millennium’s existing Corning Compressor Station to its existing Ramapo meter station and the various points in between. As part of an open season conducted between March 11 to March 31, 2015 Millennium executed binding precedent agreements with a number of shippers for 199,500 Dth/day of the Project capacity.

5. A list of the relevant federal and state agencies in the project area with permitting requirements. The filing shall include a statement indicating:

(i) That those agencies are aware of the prospective applicant's intention to use the pre-filing process (including contact names and telephone numbers);

(ii) Whether the agencies have agreed to participate in the process;

(iii) How the applicant has accounted for agency schedules for issuance of federal authorizations; and

(iv) When the applicant proposes to file with these agencies for their respective permits or other authorizations.

Millennium has contacted federal and state agencies regarding the Project to provide information about the Commission’s pre-filing review procedures, to discuss the agencies’ respective permitting requirements, and to solicit the participation of federal and state agencies in the pre-filing review process. The table included as Attachment 2 identifies and provides contact information for the relevant federal and


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state agencies with potential permitting requirements for the Project. The table also summarizes the results of Millennium’s consultations with the affected agencies.

Millennium has incorporated the agency-specific schedules for issuance of required authorizations into its overall Project schedule and expects to receive these authorizations prior to the commencement of construction. Millennium plans to file applications for applicable federal and federally-delegated permits contemporaneously with the filing of the NGA Section 7(c) certificate application.

6. A list and description of the interest of other persons or organizations that have been contacted about the project (including contact names and telephone numbers).

Millennium has begun meeting with various stakeholders, including local, state, and federal officials, to identify and address potential concerns with the Project. A list identifying the stakeholders that have been contacted about the Project is provided as Attachment 3. Millennium will continue its public outreach efforts throughout the pre-filing period, keeping stakeholders and other interested parties informed of the Project.

7. A description of what work has already been done, e.g., contacting stakeholders, agency consultations, project engineering, route planning, environmental and engineering contractor engagement, environmental surveys/studies, and open houses. The description shall also include the identification of the environmental and engineering firms and subcontractors under contract to develop the project.

A. Stakeholder Contact. Information regarding Millennium’s stakeholder contact efforts is included in Attachment 3.

B. Agency Consultations. Attachment 2 includes information regarding Millennium’s consultations with federal and state agencies about the Project.

C. Project Engineering. Millennium has contracted EN Engineering (“ENE”) to provide engineering services for the project. ENE has completed site surveys, 10% designs, equipment layouts, 10% grading and site plot plans, centerline survey of the existing 24” line, and 10% alignment sheets for the 7.3 mile pipeline.

D. Environmental and Engineering Contractor Engagement. Millennium has retained TRC Environmental Corporation as its environmental contractor and ENE as its engineering contractor.

E. Environmental Surveys/Studies. A desktop review of available information has been conducted for the proposed locations for the Project facilities. Resources reviewed included federally and state-listed threatened and endangered species, wetlands and waterbodies, existing land use and topography, and soils. There are


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a total of 47 parcels crossed by the pipeline loop, and 95% (45) of the affected landowners have granted survey access permission. Millennium has completed wetland and cultural resource surveys on over 90% of the survey corridor around the pipeline loop because it was able to complete such surveys on all parcels where survey access permission has been granted, and within Millennium’s existing easement on no access parcels. Wetland and cultural resource surveys have also been completed at all three aboveground facility sites. Pending completion of initial consultation with federal and state agencies regarding rare species, additional surveys may be conducted in spring / summer 2016. The data from these surveys will be included within the final resource reports currently scheduled to be filed in July 2016.

F. Site Control. As stated above, Millennium has received survey permission from 95% of landowners for the pipeline loop portion of the Project and either owns or has obtained survey access for all of the above ground facility locations. If route variations are required based on survey findings, Millennium will request survey permission from any additional affected landowners (if applicable). Once a final route for the pipeline loop is determined for the NGA Section 7(c) filing, Millennium will begin the process of obtaining, on a consensual basis, the land rights needed to construct, own and operate the Project. Millennium has acquired the land needed for the new compressor station to be located in Sullivan County. Millennium is currently negotiating for additional land that may be needed at the Hancock Compressor Station, and the permanent facilities to be added to the Ramapo Meter Station, as currently designed, can be located within the property lines of the current station.

8. For LNG terminal projects, proposals for at least three prospective third-party contractors from which Commission staff may make a selection to assist in the preparation of the requisite National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”) document.


9. For non-LNG natural gas facilities, proposals for at least three prospective third-party contractors from which Commission staff may make a selection to assist in the preparation of the requisite NEPA document, or a proposal for the submission of an applicant-prepared draft Environmental Assessment as determined during the initial consultation described in paragraph (c) of Section 157.21.

To provide administrative assistance to the Commission Staff during the pre-filing review and certificate proceeding, Millennium will provide a third-party environmental contractor to assist Commission Staff in completing the review process. Millennium conducted an RFP soliciting proposals for a third-party


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contractor. Contemporaneously with this filing, Millennium is providing Commission Staff with the top three proposals received in response to the RFP.

10. Acknowledgement that a complete Environmental Report and complete application are required at the time of filing.

Millennium acknowledges that a complete Environmental Report and a complete NGA Section 7(c) certificate application are required at the time of filing. Millennium plans on submitting the final Environmental Report and the application in July 2016.

11. A description of a Public Participation Plan which identifies specific tools and actions to facilitate stakeholder communications and public information, including a project website and a single point of contact. This plan shall also describe how the applicant intends to respond to requests for information from federal and state permitting agencies, including, if applicable, the governor's designated agency for consultation regarding state and local safety considerations with respect to LNG facilities.

Millennium has developed a comprehensive Public Participation Plan, provided as Attachment 4, setting forth Millennium’s efforts to facilitate stakeholder communication and to provide effective public outreach for the Project.

Millennium has established a toll-free number, (877) 745-5615, to facilitate stakeholder communications regarding the Project. Michelle Hook and/or Michael Armiak will serve as the primary contact for the public regarding the project. Hook can be reached by phone at 845-570-0862 or email at [email protected]. Armiak can be reached by phone at 845-645-1176 or email at [email protected]. Information about the Project will also be available on Millennium’s public website, at www.millenniumpipeline.com, throughout the pre-filing review process and certificate proceeding.

12. Certification that a Letter of Intent and a Preliminary WSA have been submitted to the U.S. Coast Guard or, for modifications to an existing or approved LNG terminal, that the U.S. Coast Guard did not require such information.



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Accordingly, Millennium hereby requests that the Director of the Office of Energy Projects approve Millennium’s request to use the pre-filing review process for the Project.

Respectfully submitted, MILLENNIUM PIPELINE COMPANY, L.L.C. By: /s/ Gary A. Kruse Gary A. Kruse Vice President - General Counsel & Secretary Millennium Pipeline Company, L.L.C. (845) 620-1300 (845) 620-1320 (fax)

Attachments

cc: Ann F. Miles Mike McGehee John Wood Terry Turpin Rich McGuire

Attachment 1 - Map

14 Gabriel DriveAugusta, ME 04330

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Eastern System UpgradeUS Topo Quadrange Map Excerpt

Sources: USGS National Map 2013 (accessed December 2015), ESRI, Millenium, and TRC

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Town of Deerpark

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US Topo Quadrange Map Excerpt


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Town of Minisink

Town of Greenville

Town of Wawayanda

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Attachment 2 - Agency Contact, Permits

Pre-File Agency Correspondence Tracking Sheet - Federal Agencies

Agency Region/ Division Contact Name Contact Address Contact Phone Contact Email Date Sent

Response Type/Date

Participating Agency (Y/N)

Responding Contact

Meeting Schedule

Additional Comments

U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency

Region 2

Ms. Lingard Knutson, Sr.

Transportation and Energy

Environmental Analyst

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2

290 Broadway, 25th Floor New York, NY 10007 - 1866

(212) 637-3747 [email protected] 01-08-2016

via email

NOAA Fisheries

Northeast Region Office

Ms. Karen Greene

55 Great Republic Drive Gloucester, MA 01930

[email protected] 01-06-2016 via email

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Region 5 Mr. Tim Sullivan

USFWS - New York Field Office

3817 Luker Road Cortland, NY 13045

(607) 753-9334 [email protected] 01-08-2016

via email

U.S. Army Corps of

Engineers

New York District

(Western Permits Section)

Mr. Brian Orzel, Project

Manager

US Army Corps of Engineers ATTN: Regulatory Branch,

Room 1937 26 Federal Plaza

New York, NY 10278-0090

(917) 790 - [email protected].

mil 01-08-2016

via email

U.S. National Park Service

Northeast Region

Mr. Mike Caldwell, Regional Director

National Park Service U.S. Custom House 200 Chestnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19106

(215) 597 - 7013 [email protected] 01-08-2016

via email

Delaware River Basin Commission

Water Resources

Management Branch

David Kovach, Supervisor,

Project Review Section

25 State Police Drive West Trenton, NJ 08628-0360

(609) 883-9500 [email protected] 01-08-2016

via email 01-14-2016 via email

Y

Pre-File Agency Correspondence Tracking Sheet - New York State Agencies


Response Date/Type


Responding Contact

Meeting Schedule

Additional Comments

New York State

Department of Agriculture and Markets

Mr. Matthew Brower,

Agricultural Resource Specialist

10B Airline Drive Albany, NY 12235

(518) 457-2851 Office

(518) 527-7685 Cell

[email protected] ate.ny.us

01-08-2016 via email

New York State

Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC)

New York Natural Heritage Program

Mr. Nicholas Conrad,

Information Resources

Coordinator

NYSDEC-DFWMR NY Natural Heritage

Program 625 Broadway, 5th Floor Albany, NY 12233-4757

(518) 402-8944 [email protected] 01-08-2016

via email

NYSDEC Division of

Environmental Permits

Ms. Karen Gaidasz,

Environmental Analyst II

625 Broadway Albany, NY 12233-1750

(518) 402-9167 [email protected] 01-08-2016

via email

New York State Office of

Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation

State Historic Preservation

Office

Mr. Paul Archambault

Peebles Island State Park P.O. Box 189

Waterford, NY 12188-0189 (518) 237-8643 [email protected]

01-08-2016 via email c/o Kathy

Howe

New York State Public

Service Commission

Office of Electric, Gas,

and Water

Rajendra Addepalli, Director

Empire State Plaza Agency Building 3

Albany, NY 12223-1350

(518) 473 - [email protected].

gov 01-08-2016

via email

Pre-File Agency Correspondence Tracking Sheet - Tribal Historic Preservation Officers


Response Date/Type


Responding Contact

Meeting Schedule

Additional Comments

Delaware Tribe of Indians

Tribal Historic

Preservation Office

(THPO)

Ms. Susan Bachor,

Preservation Representative

PO Box 64 Pocono Lake, PA 18347

(610) 761-7452 [email protected] 01-08-2016

via email

Delaware Nation

Cultural Preservation

Office

Mr. Jason Ross, Section 106 Manager

PO Box 825 Anadarko, OK 7300531064 State

Highway #281 Building 100

Anadarko, OK 73005

(405) 247 - 8903 [email protected] 01-08-2016

via email

St. Regis Mohawk Tribe (formerly St.

Regis Band of Mohawk

Indians of New York)

THPO Ms. Ann Bero 412 State Route 37

Akwesasne, NY 13655 [email protected]

01-08-2016 via email

Stockbridge- Munsee Band of Mohican

Indians

Stockbridge- Munsee Tribal

Council

Ms. Bonney Hartley, Tribal

Historic Preservation

Officer

Stockbridge-Munsee Tribal Historic Preservation

New York Office P.O. Box 718

Troy, NY 12181

(518) 326 – 8870Bonney.hartley@mohican-

nsn.gov 01-08-2016

via email

Attachment 3 - List of Stakeholders Contacted

Government Officials

Attachment 3 List of Stakeholders Contacted

Stakeholder Contact Comment

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

(518) 402-8545 Tuesday, November 17, 2015

New York Department of Public Service (518) 474-2523 Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Office of State Senator John Bonacic (845) 344-3311 Monday, January 11, 2016

Office of State Senator David Carlucci (518) 455-2991 Monday, January 11, 2016

Office of State Senator Fred Akshar (518) 455-2677 Monday, January 11, 2016

Office of Assemblyman Clifford Crouch (518) 455-5741 Monday, January 11, 2016

Office of Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther (518) 455-5355 Monday, January 11, 2016

Office of Assemblyman Karl Brabenec (845) 544-7551 Monday, January 11, 2016

Office of Orange County Executive (845) 291-4000 Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Wawayanda Town Supervisor John Razzano (845) 355-5702 Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Office of U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (845) 875-4585 (202) 224-4451

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Office of US Congressman Maloney (845) 561-1259 (202) 225-5441

Tuesday, December 15, 2015 (district office) Thursday January 14, 2016 (D.C. office)

Office of U.S. Congresswoman Lowey (845) 639-3485 Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Town of Deerpark Supervisor Gary Spears (845) 856-2210 ext. 1 Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Town of Minisink Supervisor Ralph Ford (845) 590-3833 Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Town of Greenville Supervisor George Hossann (845) 856‐5064 Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Town of Highland Supervisor Jeff Haas (845) 557-8901 Friday, January 8, 2016

Town of Hancock Supervisor Sam Rowe (607) 637-3651 Thursday, January 7, 2016

Delaware County Chairman of the Board James Eisel

(607) 832-5110 Thursday, January 7, 2016

Attachment 4 - Public Participation Plan

Public Participation Plan Millennium Pipeline Company

Eastern System Upgrade January 2016

I. PROJECT OVERVIEW Millennium Pipeline Company (Millennium) is proposing a project called the Eastern System Upgrade to increase capacity on its system by approximately 200,000 Dth/day. The project will have four main components:

7.3 miles of new, 36” pipeline laid parallel to the current 24” pipeline from Deer Park to Westtown in Orange County.

Increasing horsepower at the Hancock compressor station in Delaware County by adding a new compressor unit that will add 22,400 horsepower to the system.

Adding a new compressor station in Highland, located in Sullivan County, approximately 25 miles east of the Hancock facility, which will add 22,400 horsepower to the system.

Upgrade and modify the existing Ramapo Meter Station in Rockland County. The customers that would be served by this upgrade are all Northeast utilities that are seeking to diversify the supply source for the gas their customers use. The additional capacity will benefit consumers by keeping gas supply prices low. To ensure that the public is aware of the project and has opportunities for input, Millennium has developed the following Public Participation Plan that summarizes scheduled outreach to key stakeholders in the area of the project as well as the general public. Millennium is committed to enacting a plan that encompasses early public notification and regular communications with all stakeholders. II. KEY STAKEHOLDERS

Affected landowners Federal, state, and local governmental officials Regulatory and permitting agencies Community and environmental groups News media

One Blue Hill Plaza, 7th FloorPost Office Box 1565

Pearl River, NY 10965 845.620.1300 Voice | 845.620.1320 Fax

III. COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIES AND TOOLS Millennium’s outreach efforts are designed to inform, engage, and build relationships with all the stakeholders in the regulatory review process, from project inception and announcement through completion. Millennium will engage with stakeholders and the public early in the project review process to inform them about the purpose and need of the project as well as the proposed route and facilities, its key features, opportunities for public input, the regulatory process as well as the construction process to be employed. Additionally the outreach efforts are intended to help identify and address stakeholder concerns about the project. The project will be located in the eastern portion of Millennium’s current footprint, with upgrades to our existing facilities in Delaware, Orange and Rockland Counties, and a new facility in Sullivan County. Millennium will build on the outreach efforts the company currently maintains in those areas and actively focus on engaging stakeholders and the community at-large, using a variety of communication methods. Millennium plans a broad distribution of informational materials, utilizing direct mail, media outreach, the company’s website, a toll-free information line, local newspaper ads, and other local resources. To carry out this plan, Millennium will do the following:

Conduct face to face meetings with landowners, elected officials and key stakeholders;

Direct mail pieces; Issue press releases and conduct other media activities that ensure the news

media has information and can report on the project; Create collateral materials such as fact sheets, maps and other printed materials

that will be made available to the public in a variety of places; Create a dedicated section on the Millennium web site

(http://www.millenniumpipeline.com/index.html) that contains important public information and provides information on how the public can contact the company to provide feedback;

Create several repositories of informational material Provide a toll-free phone number for the public to call: (877) 745-5615 Provide an email address the public can use to submit comments and questions; Conduct regular governmental briefings; and Host an open house meeting to give interested parties access to information and

the opportunity to discuss the project with Millennium officials. IV. DIRECT MAIL

Within fourteen days after the issuance of the notice approving the use of the pre-filing process, Millennium will initiate a direct mailing to all stakeholders, including agencies, elected officials and potentially affected landowners. The mailer will provide specifics on the location of the facilities to the extent known at that time, and an overview of the project, including a proposed timeline.

V. INFORMATIONAL OPEN HOUSE Millennium will hold a public open house to introduce the project to host communities. The format will be structured around information stations, complete with displays and photographs. Community members and other interested stakeholders will be able to speak with, and ask questions of, company representatives and Millennium’s contractors to learn about the various aspects of the project such as potential environmental impacts, construction processes, project equipment, and other pertinent facts. The meeting will be held in an accessible public location, most likely in Sullivan County. Fact sheets, maps and other collateral materials will be available for people to take home. Millennium will publicize the open house by:

Issuing a press release to local media Placing advertisements in local newspapers; and Sending direct mail to stakeholders.

VI. INFORMATION REPOSITORIES In an effort to make information about the project available to the public, Millennium will place public documents in several to-be-determined public buildings in locations near Millennium project areas. These information repositories will be in readily accessible public venues and house public information and regulatory filings on the project. VII. TOLL-FREE INFORMATION LINES Millennium will continue to maintain its current toll-free phone line at (877) 213-1944 which will allow stakeholders and residents to contact the company and request information, share concerns and express opinions about the project. VIII. WEB PRESENCE Millennium will update the company’s website (www.millenniumpipeline.com) and use it to communicate with the public as well. As the project moves through the various stages of development, Millennium plans to add the following details on the project to the site:

A proposed route map; A location map for the above-ground facilities; Expected timeline with key dates; Facts and bullets on the benefits of the project; Contact information for Millennium; and Links to the websites of resources such as regulatory agencies, and other

important sites.

IX. MEDIA RELATIONS Millennium will also announce the project to the media via a press release targeted to media outlets that cover events in the host communities where the upgrades will be taking place. In addition, as the project moves forward, Millennium is committed to keeping the public informed about the project and from time to time, the company may issue press releases or statements related to:

New project developments; Community activities; and Open house or other public input opportunities.

X. GOVERNMENT RELATIONS To assist state and local officials in understanding the project objectives and to provide them with the support they need to respond to constituent inquiries, Millennium will be:

Conducting introductory briefings; Providing regular updates; and Inviting officials to attend sponsored events such as the Informational Open

House. XI. SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT Michelle Hook and/or Michael Armiak will serve as the primary contact for the public regarding the project. Hook can be reached by phone at 845-570-0862 or email at [email protected]. Armiak can be reached by phone at 845-645-1176 or email at [email protected]. XII. INFORMATION REQUESTS FROM FEDERAL & STATE PERMITTING AGENCIES Millennium will respond in a timely manner to information requests from federal and state permitting agencies through its environmental consultants or other designated representatives.

millennium pipeline pre-filing for eastern system upgrade project

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