As you know, development and enhancementof our energy infrastructure is one of our nation's top goals. Energy infrastructure is particularly important on Long Island, where growth in natural gas demand is outpacing growth in transportation capacity and supply and the electric generation is increasingly strained. Long Island needs new and repowered gas-fired power plants for both economic and development and environmental reasons. New natural gas supplies from Eastern Canada provided by Islander East will augment existing supplies from the American Southwest and Western Canada and foster the financing and construction of new gas-fired plants and the conversion of older oil-fired plants to cleaner gas-fired plants. Just as important are the benefits to the reliability and security of the regional energy transportation system provided by a second separate Long Island connection with the interstate pipeline grid.

Additionally, the Northeast region as a whole will benefit from Islander East. The conversion of Long Island power plants from oil to gas will result in reduced emissions flowing into our region's air. In Connecticut, the new pipeline could help facilitate this oil to gas conversion consistent with Connecticut's landmark "Sooty Six" law. As noted in the recently released Comprehensive Asseessment and Report by the Connecticut Task Force on Long Island Sound, "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 and could reduce the risk of oil spills into Long Island Sound as a result of fuel oil deliveries." Further, the increase in the availability of natural gas will reduce our region's dependence on foreign oil - an important national security goal.

In early 2001, Islander East began the permitting process. In September 2002, recognizing the need for a second separate Long Island Sound crossing providing new access to Eastern Canadian gas, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a certificate for the Islander East pipeline. This extensive process included input from the New England District and completion of an Environmental Impact Statement. In January 2003, FERC reaffirmed this certification. New York State agencies have carefully examnined the Islander East proposal and issued the appropriate environmental permits consistant with the FERC certification.

Unfortunately, in May 2003, the New England District notified Islander East that, in the course of the Corps' permitting process, it intends to reopen issues addressed and resolved during the FERC review process. In particular, the the New England District stated that it will use a different definition of the project's in order to reconsider alternative routes -- a matter within FERC's jurisdiction and expertise that received significant review during the process.

As you know, interagency coordination for the review of new energy infrastructure projects has received much attention over the past several years, resulting in two Executive Orders and an InterAgency Agreement recognizing 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."

The current status of the New England District consideration of the Islander East project is completely at odds with the policies of the interagency coordination embodied in the Executive Orders and the InterAgency Agreement. A review by the New England District of issues already addressed and resolved by the FERC is duplicative, costly and time consuming, and conflicts with the Corps' own regulations discouraging duplicative environmental review.

As members of the Long Island Sound Congressional Caucus, we note that Islander East will employ horizontal direct drilling (HDD) technology that minimizes the need to dig a trench in a portion of the pipeline route. Well-regarded environmental conservation organizations have praised this technique for helping to significantly reduce the pipeline's impact on core preservation areas. We expect that the New England District and Islander East will continue to work together to protect these vital areas.

Once again, we respectfully request that you reveiw the New England District's consideration of the Islander East permit applications to ensure consistency with applicable Executive Orders and the InterAgency agreement and to ensure timely review and approval of the Islander East permit applications. We thank-you in advance for your attention to this matter and stand ready to assist you in your efforts.

Peter King and Timothy Bishop
Members of Congress