PSC Seeks Public Comment on April Gas Explosion

ALBANY, NY (01/05/2010)(readMedia)-- The New York Public Service Commission will hold public statement hearings concerning the natural gas explosion that occurred at 80-50 260th Street, Floral Park, Queens, on April 24, 2009. Public statement hearings will be held as follows:

Thursday, January 7, 2010

2:00 p.m.

Services Now for Adult Persons

80-45 Winchester Boulevard

Bldg. #4 Queens Village, NY

***

Thursday, January 7, 2010

7:00 p.m.

P.S. 115Q

The Glen Oaks School

80-51 261st Street

Floral Park, NY

On November 12, 2009, Staff of the New York State Department of Public Service (DPS), Safety Section, Office of Electric, Gas & Water, filed a report on the explosion. A summary of the DPS Staff report is available online at: http://tinyurl.com/yab68rb

On December 11, 2009, Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. (Con Edison) filed its response to the DPS Staff report. The DPS Staff report and the Con Edison response are available online at: http://www.dps.state.ny.us/09-G-0380_ConED_Gas_Explosion.html

How to Comment

Members of the public will have an opportunity to present their comments at the hearing before an administrative law judge assigned by the Commission to this case. A verbatim CASE transcript of the hearing will be made for inclusion in the record of this proceeding.

To speak at the hearings, it is not necessary to make an appointment in advance or present written material. Persons will be called to speak after completing a request card. All comments at the hearings will be transcribed and become part of the Commission's formal record. Each hearing session will remain open for at least one hour, and will continue until everyone wishing to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements are made.

Disabled persons requiring special accommodations should contact the Department of Public Service's Human Resource Management Office at (518) 474-2520 as soon as possible.

Other Ways to Comment

Writing: Those who cannot attend or prefer not to speak at a public statement hearing may comment in writing by submitting a document attached to an email addressed to secretary@dps.state.ny.us. The subject heading of your email should refer to "Case 09-G-0380 Natural Gas Explosion." Comments may also be made via the "PSC Comment Form," in the "Consumer Assistance" file accessed through the Commission's Web site at http://www.dps.state.ny.us.

Toll-Free Opinion Line: You may call the Commission's Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120. This number is set up to take comments about pending cases from in-state callers, 24 hours a day. Callers should select English or Spanish and press "1" to leave comments.

All comments, received through any of these alternative methods, will become part of the record, be made available for inspection in the Commission's file room and be reported to the Commission for its consideration in Case 09-G-0380.

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