On the morning of March 12, 2007, a CSX freight train derailed approximately 34 cars near Oneida, NY. A large fire occurred at the scene and residents and emergency responders reported secondary explosions. CSX provided information that there were 40 tank cars carrying liquid petroleum gas in the train. Not only was rail transport halted, but the New York State Thruway was closed for several hours, requiring traffic to be detoured miles out of the way – disrupting commerce and travel. Thankfully, there were no reported deaths or injuries, but reports indicated there was an evacuation covering a 1-mile radius.

There were 18 train derailments in Western New York between January 2005 and September 2006, underlying the fact that New York State’s freight railways are in need of serious attention and repair.

Despite accidents like the one in Oneida, a private company, New York Regional Interconnect (NYRI), is seeking to build a 190 mile high-voltage direct current transmission line from the Town of Marcy in Oneida County, NY, located in my district, to the Town of New Windsor in Orange County, NY.

The company estimates that more than 90 percent of the proposed primary and alternate routes will follow existing rights-of-way – both along railroad tracks and natural gas lines. The transmission line would consist of 135-foot tall towers, and be operated with a rated power flow of 1200 mega watts. A portion of the proposed route follows the New York Susquehanna & Western Railway right-of-way, which would run through some of the more heavily populated cities and towns in Upstate New York.

In light of the train derailment just a month ago, I successfully attached an amendment to the Rail and Public Transportation Security Act with strong bi-partisan support, requiring the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Secretary of Transportation, to conduct an assessment of the safety and security vulnerabilities of placing high voltage direct current electric transmission lines along active railroad rights-of-way. 

My amendment aims to evaluate the risks to local inhabitants and consumers of electric power located so closely near rail rights-of-way, so that we can avoid future electric power interruptions and ensure the safety of our constituents. It is imperative that we consider the implications of placing a high-voltage power line along railroad tracks that would literally run right through our backyards.

Further, the NYRI proposal, at the admission of its own backers, will raise energy costs for the very Upstate communities that would be devastated by the construction and towers. It is also more than likely that the NYRI power line would do nothing to aid the energy congestion in New York City.

In order to prevent NYRI from running roughshod over Upstate property owners, I have been working with my colleagues Reps. John Hall (D-Dover Plains) and Maurice Hinchey (D- Hurley) to protect our communities.

In February, we introduced two pieces of legislation that would effectively prevent the NYRI power line proposal from using federal eminent domain to take private property along the proposed route.

I have also requested a follow-up congressional hearing and a Department of Energy public meeting in Upstate New York to address public concerns and ensure that all stakeholders in this process are given fair opportunity to convey their opinions – including opinions relating to the transportation safety and security issues of running a power line along rail rights-of-way

The people of the 24 th district, who I have the honor to represent, strongly oppose NYRI’s ill-conceived and poorly-planned proposal to run high voltage electric transmission lines right through the heart of our community, often along insecure rights-of-way. I will do everything in my power to ensure that the health, safety, and well-being of our neighbors are considered before any power line proposal moves forward.

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