The company behind a 124-mile pipeline to carry natural gas from the Marcellus Shale into New York wants to begin tree clearing this month despite the fact that it has not yet received approval from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC).

Marie J. French writes in the Albany Business Review: 


The Constitution Pipeline is seeking federal regulatory approvals to start above-ground tree clearing. Getting a start on that clearing is key for the planned natural gas pipeline because the tree clearing can only be done during a short window so it does not interfere with bird migration patterns.


The Constitution Pipeline Co. filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the agency that oversees cross-state pipelines, to begin limited tree clearing on Friday. The company wants to get the approval by Jan. 15 in order to start tree felling on Jan. 22 and complete it on March 31, according to public filings.


The project has not yet received approval from New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation. It received federal approval in December 2014.


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