TOWN OF BRUTUS

9021 North Seneca Street

P.O. Box 720

Weedsport, New York 13166

/8^T*W^?9i

Phone: 315-834-9398

\ V',!.:/V^-lh J- /

E-Mail: townofbrutus(a)centralny.twcbc.com

^MlMil'!-\/\

FAX: 315-834-9381

TDD 1-800-622-1220

The Town of Brutus is an Equal Opportunity Lender, Provider, Employer

Complaints of discrimination should be sent to: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Washington, D.C. 20250

January 16, 2014

Hon. Kevin Casutto

Administrative Law Judge

NYS Public Service Commission

Three Empire State Plaza

Albany, New York 12223-1350
Re:

Case 13-T-0235 - Joint Application of New York State Electric & Gas

Corporation and Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation d/b/a National Grid for a
Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need for the Construction

of Approximately 14.5 miles of 115kV Electric Transmission Facilities from the

State Street Substation in Cayuga County to the Elbridge Substation in
Onondaga County
Dear Justice Casutto:

At its meeting of January 6, 2014 the Town Board of the Town of Brutus
discussed with impacted residents the proposed Auburn Transmission Project, NYS
PSC case 13-T-0235. The proposal as now described raises a number of concerns that
the Board believes would negatively impact environmental resources of the Town and
harm the quality of life of residents of the Town residing near the project route. Specific
concerns identified by the Board are:
1 - Removal of significant amounts of forested lands
2 - Encroachment on farmland in violation of the Town's adopted Agricultural
and Farmland Protection Plan, prepared with funds provide by and approved by
the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets.
3 - Violation of Section 125.108 of the Town's Zoning Law that seeks to prevent
the location of such facilities near residences, with no effort to minimize the
extent of non-compliance.

4 - No effort to minimize the visual impacts of the project that, due to the height
of the proposed towers, go well beyond the adjacent properties.
5 - Removal of a substantial amount of land from the Town's tax base.

The Board's review of this proposal has identified a potential mitigation measure.

The applicant is ignoring an existing, unused transmission line it now has in place

TOWN OF BRUTUS
9021 North Seneca Street

Phone: 315-834-9398

P.O. Box 720

FAX:

Weedsport, New York 13166

E-Mail: townofbrutus'gcentralny.twcbc.com

315-834-9381

TDD 1-800-622-1220

The Town of Brutus is an Equal Opportunity Lender, Provider, Employer

Complaints of discrimination should be sent to: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Washington, D.C. 20250

adjacent to the proposed route. The removal of unused, deteriorated towers in this right
of way could accommodate the project and avoid many of the negative impacts
identified above.

The Town of Brutus requests that the PSC consider this mitigation opportunity
and require the applicant modify their proposal to utilize it and thereby minimize the
negative impacts the Town has identified.
Sincerely yours,

mes A. Hotaling

own Supervisor
cc:

Hon. Kathleen Burgess

Hon. John DeFrancisco

Hon. Robert Oaks

Tanner Road Residents