Approves the exchange of certain lands between National Grid and the People of the State of New York

BILL NUMBER:S4861A

Title of bill

An act approving the exchange of certain lands between National Grid and the People of the State of New York

Purpose

This legislation allows National Grid to deed to the state approximately 20 acres of forest land currently owned by the company in exchange for the six acres of forest preserve land bordering County Route 56 and a utility light of way over a two mile stretch in St. Lawrence County. Without the exchange of land, the utility would have had to re-route the construction of a new transmission line around the forest preserve. As a result, a large track of forested land would have had been clear cut to accommodate a new transmission line deemed necessary to provide reliable service to the Central Adirondacks. The legislation allows for the transaction between the state and the utility as authorized in a constitutional amendment approved by the people of the State of New York in 2009.

Summary of provisions

The legislation authorizes the state to convey close to six acres of forest preserve land that adjoins County Route 56 in St. Lawrence County to the utility. In exchange National Grid will convey to the state for incorporation into the forest preserve approximately 20 acres of forest land in St. Lawrence County. The lands have been identified by National Grid and reviewed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation which has deemed them to be at least in equal value as required by the Constitutional Amendment.

Justification

To ensure reliable electrical service year-round to certain communities in the Adirondacks, including Tupper Lake and Lake Placid, it was necessary for National Grid to construct a new 46kV power line. This power line in large part runs along St. Lawrence County's Route 56. However, there is a two mile stretch where the right-of-way along the side of County Route 56 was not large enough to accommodate the new power line without impinging on forest preserve lands. Without the swapping of the identified land, National Grid alternative plan would have run the power line around the forest preserve lands, resulting in a seventy-five foot wide swath of land being cleared along a six mile stretch of sensitive forest boreal habitat. A 2009 constitutional amendment approved by the voters of the State of New York allowed for a much more environmentally viable alternative whereby a shorter, less expensive, less damaging route could be utilized. The current legislation allows for the transaction to occur between the state and the utility and the exchange of land to take place.

The acreage being conveyed to the state will join state lands in two areas in the Town of Piercefield that are currently divided by a National Grid/Niagara Mohawk right away. The adjacent lands that will remain in National Grid ownership split parcels of land owned by two separate timber companies that have

granted the State of New York Conservation Easements. National Grid has expressed a willingness to discuss future land transfer with the timber company to allow for these tracks of land to also be joined into one parcel.

The construction of the project was done in conjunction with the New York Power Authority. Following the completion of the land transfer, ownership of the line will be approved by the New York Power Authority and upon approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the line will be owned in whole by National Grid.

Legislative history

New.

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

Immediate.