DEERPARK, NY — The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is considering a site in the Town of Deerpark, the Wagoner Meter Station, as a possible location for a compressor station proposed by the Millenium Pipeline.

Millenium has requested a permit for another location in the Town of Minisink on Jacobs Rd., which it prefers. However, Minisink residents have protested the permit, maintaining that the rural residential neighborhood is not an appropriate site for the facility, which would have two 6,130 horsepower compressors and exhaust stacks over 50 feet tall.

The compressor at the alternative Deerpark site would be smaller, but would require digging up more than 7 miles of 24-inch pipe and inserting a wider pipe. Millenium has filed a motion saying that the Deerpark plan would potentially affect more wetlands and water bodies and have a negative impact on four endangered or threatened species: the Indiana bat, dwarf wedgemussle, bog turtle and small whorled pogonia.