ELDRED, NY — A couple who live slightly more than half a mile from the site of the proposed Millennium Pipeline Compressor Station is threatening legal action against the company  and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

In a letter to both organizations dated January 4, Mark and Alycia Egan explained that they have been trying to sell their home and have faced problems. One buyer who seemed very interested in the house immediately abandoned the possibility of purchasing it once she found out about the proposed compressor station. She said, “I can’t take the risk.”

According to the letter, the only response to the situation from Millennium was from representative Michelle Hook, who said, “those buyers are clearly misinformed.”

Hook did not immediately reply for a request for comment.

The couple wrote, “Ms. Hook’s statement is clearly meant to convey, at least in her and/or Millennium Pipeline’s opinion, that the buyers or public-at-large are misinformed about the dangers and hazards of compressor stations—that those dangers are over [sic] exaggerated. But, physicians, nurses, and other public health professionals disagree, and their disagreement is based on facts, science, and medicine—not company profits.”

They cited numerous studies and evaluations that say that compressor stations represent real adverse health impacts to people living nearby, and have a negative impact on the value of nearby homes.

Also, a report from Key-Log Economics, LLC says that homeowners who live within half a mile of a compressor station can expect a decrease of property value by at least 25% because of the existence of the facility.

In fact, the assessed value of three homes near the Hancock Compressor Station was reduced by local officials once that compressor station became operational because of the adverse conditions created. One home’s assessment was reduced by 50%, and two others reduced by 25%.

Further, last year Millennium agreed to build a new home for Jessica and Andy Kenyon because they had fears about living in the one they owned near the compressor station. As Millennium often does when settling legal matters, the company imposed a condition for the settlement that prohibits the couple from discussing it.

That was also the case after Millennium allegedly harmed a septic system and foundation of another house on Hungry Hill Road when enlarging the pipeline in 2008.

The Egans wrote, “without an appropriate response from FERC and Millennium Pipeline, we are left with little recourse other than legal action.”