Opinion ID: 767093
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Iroquois Project

Text: 8 The charges against defendants stem from the construction in 1991 and 1992 of the 370-mile Iroquois pipeline project from Ontario, Canada to Long Island, New York. Defendant Kenneth Austin was the vice president and director of engineering and construction for Iroquois Gas Transmission System Limited Partnership and its agent, the Iroquois Pipeline Operating Co. (collectively, Iroquois), which constructed the pipeline. Phenix Environmental, Inc. (Phenix) performed environmental inspections for Iroquois. Defendant Louise Mango, Phenix' president and principal owner, also acted as Iroquois' manager of environmental affairs. Defendant Kevin Dominske, a Phenix employee, oversaw environmental compliance for Spread Two, a portion of the pipeline project located in northern New York. 9 Prior to constructing the pipeline, Iroquois had to satisfy several regulatory masters including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which evaluated Iroquois' application to construct the natural gas pipeline. After preparing a final environmental impact statement (FEIS), FERC approved the project but required Iroquois to comply with many conditions including those contained in Appendices C and D of the FEIS certificate. See Iroquois Gas Transmission Sys. L.P., 53 FERC 61,194 (Nov. 14, 1990). Appendix D detailed stream and wetland construction and mitigation procedures, while Appendix C set out an erosion control, revegetation, and maintenance plan for all other disturbed areas. 10 Iroquois also applied to the Army Corps of Engineers for a discharge permit pursuant to the CWA and the Rivers and Harbors Act, 33 U.S.C. 403. The Corps identified two areas of the pipeline work as regulated by the CWA: backfilling of trenches excavated in waterways and wetland areas, and the placement of any temporary fills in waters of the United States necessary to support construction activities. Record of Decision for Application No. 89-1123-L4 by the Iroquois Gas Transmission System at 15. The Corps' discharge permit, signed by Lieutenant Colonel Richard C. Boston, acting on behalf of Colonel R.M. Danielson, the Corps' New York District Engineer, required, among other things, that Iroquois implement the environmental mitigation measures contained in Appendices C and D of the FEIS.