"I don't agree with every single one of President Bush's energy policies, but I'm with him on this one," Schumer said. "The New England Army Corps seems to be a rogue unit acting against the orders of its Commander in Chief. It's run amok for too long and we need to stop it now."

For over two years, the Islander East Pipeline Company has been applying for permits to build a 49.9-mile, 24-inch natural gas pipeline from North Haven, Connecticut to Long Island. The gas line will bring fuel to approximately 600,000 homes and is also expected to be used to fuel a new generation of power plants. Construction on the pipeline has not begun.

In September 2002, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved the certification of this pipeline. This approval came after the completion of an Environmental Impact Statement and after the New England District of the Army Corps of Engineers initially studied the project. FERC reaffirmed this certification in January 2003.

But in May 2003, the New England District of the Army Corps of Engineers reversed its position and suddenly told Islander East that it intends to reopen issues resolved during the FERC review process, including basic decisions like the route the pipeline should take. Schumer noted that these issues fall under FERC's jurisdiction and received significant review during the approval process.
In the latest move to stymie the pipeline, the New England Division of the Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will begin holding public hearings about the pipeline. The first hearing will be held in Branford, Connecticut on August 5. No hearings are planned anywhere in New York.

Schumer said that in reopening issues that have already been resolved by FERC, the officials from the New England Division of the Army Corps of Engineers appear to be acting against the orders of President Bush. On May 18, 2001, President Bush signed Executive Order 3212 – Actions to Expedite Energy-Related Projects. This document ordered federal agencies to "expedite their review of permits or take other action as necessary" to accelerate the completion of energy-related projects.

As a result of the May 2001 Executive Order, an Interagency Agreement was signed in June 2002 between the Departments of the Army, Agriculture, Commerce, Interior, Transportation, and Energy, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Council on Environmental Quality, and the Environmental Protection Agency. This interagency agreement concluded that "the timely authorization of new interstate natural gas pipeline projects is essential to facilitate the nation's ability to meet the goal of sufficient availability and use of natural gas."

Schumer told Undersecretary Brownlee that the New England District's re-consideration of the Islander East project is completely at odds with Bush Administration policies detailed in both the Executive Order and the Interagency Agreement. Schumer also noted that the New England District of the Army Corps of Engineers wants to review issues that were already addressed and resolved by the FERC, which is duplicative, costly, and time consuming – and violates the agency's own regulations discouraging duplicative environmental review.

Schumer asked Undersecretary Brownlee to review the New England District of the Army Corps of Engineers and stop them from delaying the new pipeline to Long Island.

The new pipeline is crucial to future economic development on Long Island because growth in natural gas demand on the Island has been outpacing growth in supply for years. And while Long Island currently receives most of its natural gas from the American Southwest and Western Canada, the new pipeline would provide Long Island with gas from Eastern Canada for the first time.

Even Connecticut Governor Rowland's Task Force on Long Island Sound concluded that, "New gas pipeline capacity to Long Island could reduce the amount of fuel oil consumed, which would provide regional air quality benefits that would be enjoyed by Connecticut."

"Governor Rowland's task force said that Connecticut has to facilitate the movement of energy in the region, and they are right. The added bonus is that it could help clean up our air – it's a win-win for everyone," Schumer said.