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NY TRANSCO/ Con Ed
ELECTRICAL SUBSTATION

Projected Site Located at 2238 Route 22 - Across from Cricket Valley Gas Plant

New York Transco, a subsidiary of National Grid and Con Edison is proposing a substation facility, which would include: Two giant towers, nine tall lighting masts, and heavy electrical equipment on the southeast corner of Rte. 22 and Cricket Hill Road. High voltage power lines, strung across Cricket Hill Rd., connecting to the Con Edison power lines. The proposed site is a former dump that has never been properly remediated. Transco has not proposed proper remediation of the site. The site is directly adjacent to The Great Swamp preserve, a National Historical Landmark and Critical Environmental Area, and Class I Wetland. The preserve has a fragile ecosystem and rare and endangered species.

OUR QUESTIONS & CONCERNS

We've received counsel from lawyers, neighboring town officials, and environmental justice experts.
Together, we have lots of questions, some that are still unanswered by the project applicant and planning board. We urge you to ask the town these questions as well. If enough of us ask, maybe they will answer.

Rendering of Dover Station

We respectfully ask the Planning Board to require an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that addresses the near-certain potential for negative impacts on our environment, and our town as a whole. With the valid concerns, residents have raised, this must be required.
The Planning Board must recognize that their responsibilities to the town extend beyond what is “code,” or an “allowable use” - and they must protect us, our children, and our town. For us, this project is not “just a substation” it is the tipping point where we draw the line on the industrial energy complex that is growing in our town.
Transco has stated this project is part of the efforts to improve the capacity, efficiency, and resiliency of New York’s electrical grid to meet clean energy goals. There is no evidence to support this. In fact, it is the Pleasant Valley substation that connects to “Segment B” of upgraded transmission lines from upstate to downstate, and not the Dover facility. Further, the Dover station is not listed on the NY-ES website. The public needs and benefits must be considered.
Much of Dover, including the Transco site, is considered by the State, EPA, and DEC as areas of Environmental Justice concern and a Disadvantaged Community. We are environmentally and financially disadvantaged and disproportionally burdened by industrial energy projects and environmental hazards.
We ask the Planning Board to engage third-party, independent, and unbiased experts to review all submissions, reports, surveys, and studies. We cannot rely on one-sided information or peer reviews where many inaccuracies and discrepancies have already been identified. We need our own Hydrologists, Geologists, and Environmental Experts to review this project.
The Transco site is a former automotive junkyard site that has never been remediated. It is still littered with debris, parts, drums, containers, and tires within wetlands, wetland buffers, and throughout the site. We have concerns that construction activities that include blasting, drilling, and grading will impact our aquifer, our private wells, and The Great Swamp which is immediately adjacent.
The Planning Board and residents had asked repeatedly for Soil and Groundwater resting results for the site. When we finally received the report, Transco included testing parameters, and a map of locations tested, but no data results. When compared with 1970’s aerial images, it appears sample locations were taken from the few locations on the site that were not previously disturbed. We want accurate testing done as this could impact our water and our natural resources like The Great Swamp.
The Great Swamp and Dover in general are home to several endangered and threatened species. We must protect these species and the biodiversity of our region.
Residents have raised concerns about the impacts on the community character of our town, and our property values. Transco has dismissed these concerns and submitted a report that implied that homes with a view of a substation are worth more than those without a view of a substation.
Transco also proposes to install transmission towers on the north side of Cricket Hill Road to connect to the Con Edison Right-of-Way. This is in the footprint of a State-registered Superfund site. There have been no soil or groundwater testing, or any analysis provided by the applicant on this site. In fact, this portion of the project area is not included on-site plan drawings or plans that were submitted to the Town or other agencies.
Residents have voiced concerns about the “segmented” utility development in our town that must be considered cumulatively as part of an EIS. Transco has their only connection to the other projects is “that they are in the same town.” It is simple to connect the dots between these projects - the common link between them is Con Edison and National Grid. Each of these industrial energy projects paves the way for the next one.
Residents and the Planning Board have asked Transco to bury the power lines under Cricket Hill Road. This would avoid the need for 140-145’ towers on the project site. If Transco won’t commit to this we urge the Planning Board to deny the application.
Why hasn’t Transco performed a "Balloon Test" to help residents visualize the proposed towers and lights that will run throughout the night at the Substation? Transco has rejected this request by residents and the Planning Board, why? What is their concern for conducting these tests for our residents? Why won't the town push for this simple test for its residents?
Consider that these power and utility infrastructure projects have a significant impact on the health and safety of residents, our property values, and the direction of future development in the Town - with no benefit to us.
We’re concerned about the close proximity of NY Transco and these potential others projects to Dover High and Middle School within 1/2 mile. These are our children, our most precious asset and we must protect them.