Despite some concerns over utility poles treated with what some say is a toxic chemical, Southold Town has decided to move forward with planned PSEG upgrades.
Concerns have been raised over pentachlorophenol, used to treat utility poles; Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said there has been ongoing discussion with the East End Supervisors & Mayors Association over whether or not to move forward with planned PSEG upgrades.
Currently, Russell said, PSEG has proposed infrastructure upgrades for Southold using Federal Emergency Management Agency funds. The upgrades are meant to help the town avoid prolonged power outages or damage to infrastructure in the event of a major storm.
Southold requested a delay in the work after public health concerns about the “penta” poles were raised, Russell said.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency did an environmental impact statement on the issue in recent years; Russell said he read the entire 99-page document, which said the chemical was approved for use in the United States “with some caveats, including some further investigation down the road.”
The issue, Russell said, is that the FEMA funding must be used within a specific time frame or it will not longer be available.
“We can either move forward or just walk away from it,” Russell said, adding that both Riverhead and Brookhaven Towns had decided to go forward; East Hampton, he said, has not yet made a decision. “My concern is if we don’t allow PSEG to make these upgrades, we won’t get the ability to do upgrades for some time. I think the prospect of prolonged outages and unreliable power might pose more of a public health, safety and welfare risk than the use of penta.”
Russell also said the use of penta had nothing to do with PSEG.
“For PSEG Long Island, the health and safety of our customers and employees is a top priority. PSEG Long Island relies on the current EPA registration determination, which permits the use of penta in utility poles. Should the EPA issue a revised determination, we will, of course, respond and comply accordingly. We are comforted by the fact that when, in response to concerns about the use of penta in East Hampton, Long Island, the NYS Department of Health concluded that the use of penta-treated utility poles there does not ‘result in a significant risk for adverse health effects,'” PSEG Long Island said today. “Currently, there are five wood preservatives used by utilities across the country – with penta capturing 55 percent of the market. Penta-treated poles have a long, proven track record for withstanding the elements and protecting utility workers who work on these poles every day, and continue to be the preferred choice among utilities across the country. Utility poles are treated with preservatives so that they can withstand the elements and last for decades.”
Justice Louisa Evans asked what other options were on the table.
“It’s either move forward with penta or not,” Russell said. The chemical, he added, has been used on poles for years.
Upgrades will be made in the Bayview area and other parts of town, he said.
Bill Toedter, president of the North Fork Environmental Council, said the EPA, in 1992, labeled penta as “a possible carcinogen.”
Concerns exist over penta potentially leaching into areas that still use well water, Russell said. But, he added, unless the EPA forbids the use of penta, a “good replacement product just won’t be on the market.”
PSEG, Russell said, “won’t have the money” for the upgrades for long.
“I don’t think we should turn away money,” Councilwoman Jill Doherty said. “If we do, in the future the money may have to come from our coffers.”
Concerns over the need for infrastructure upgrades “outweigh” penta worries, Doherty said, but she added the board should continue to work with PSEG for an alternative.
That can only happen, Russell said, after the EIS is updated; he said he’d met with federal reps to demand an EIS upgrade.
New York State Senator Ken LaValle and New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele have both advocated for a ban on penta, Russell said.
According to PSEG Long Island, the new program is funded with $729 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency funds, aimed at strengthening key electric circuits in Southold and other areas. The goal, PSEG said, improve the reliability of the electric grid for thousands of customers.
The program is funded through the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program, which was established to harden electrical distribution infrastructure against future storm damage and help restore power more quickly.
Highlights of the plan include replacing existing wire with more weather-resistant wire; installing new and more durable poles in several locations; and installing or replacing switching equipment to help reduce the number of customers affected by an outage.
The route in Southold will cover approximately 1.5 miles along the electric main line circuit, including Pine Neck Road east of Main Bayview Road and west of Kimberly Lane, North Bayview Road south of Southold Yacht Club and north of North Bayview Road Extension, and Jacobs Lane south of North Bayview Road Extension and north of Main Bayview Road. Switching equipment will be installed at Route 48 between Ackerly Pond Road and Carroll Avenue and Main Bayview Road between Bay Water Avenue and Bayberry Road.
The new poles will be approximately the same height as existing poles, have a stronger base and will be placed about two-to-three feet from the current pole locations. PSEG Long Island will actively coordinate the removal of old poles with other utilities and municipalities.
“We are committed to making our transmission and distribution system more resilient, able to better withstand extreme weather events,” said David Daly, PSEG Long Island president and chief operating officer. “Superstorm Sandy has had a lasting impact on our customers, and the recovery and healing is still ongoing. The funding provided to the Long Island Power Authority by FEMA allows us to implement significant grid reinforcements that will make the system more resilient to future storms.”
