Judge gives go-ahead for Sound test drilling to start next week

NEW HAVEN — A U.S. District judge Friday denied state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal’s request for an injunction to stop the Islander East Pipeline Co. from test drilling in Long Island Sound off Branford. "We get to work Monday, crack of dawn," said Island East lawyer Fred Lowther.

On behalf of the state Department of Environmental Protection, the attorney general’s office had argued that the company needed a new permit before it could take test borings from the Sound for a proposed natural gas pipeline across the Sound.

"We are absolutely determined to continue our fight against a project that defies the law and defiles the Sound," Blumenthal said after the decision.

Islander East is a joint venture of Duke Energy and KeySpan and has proposed constructing a 24-inch natural gas pipeline more than 20 miles long under the Sound from Branford to Long Island. For the test borings, a small boat and barges will be out in the Sound for two to three weeks.

. . .

The company has maintained that existing Federal Energy Regulatory Commission permission supersedes Connecticut requirements and filed lawsuits against the town, DEP Commissioner Gina McCarthy and Blumenthal.

http://www.nhregister.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16667357&BRD=1281&PAG=461&dept_id=7576&rfi=6

nt