CHENANGO COUNTY – A consulting firm working for New York Regional Interconnect Inc. made calls in the last two weeks to at least two local townships requesting information on zoning and building laws.
The reason for the requests is unknown at this time.
According to Town of Guilford clerk Barbara Strier, a representative from the ESS Group, a Rhode Island-based environmental consulting and engineering firm enlisted by the $1.6 million power line developer, called her office sometime during the week of April 30 asking for a host of documents.
“He wanted a copy of local laws related to everything,” said Strier, who granted the public information request. “He wanted them all.”
Strier said the caller initially did not indicate his identity, but eventually confirmed he was from ESS.
“He didn’t lead on to who he was or where he was,” said Strier.
Strier said the representative, believed to be Jim Arnoux, an environmental scientist for ESS, did not state why he needed the information. Arnoux, who did not return comment Monday, also left a voice message Friday with the Town of North Norwich, said clerk Loretta L. Smith.
www.evesun.com/topics/news/NYRI/">NYRI spokesman David Kalson could not explain the purpose of the requests.
“Frankly, I don’t know,” he said.
Kalson said he would look into the matter, but did not call back.
ESS specializes in a number of areas in industrial, commercial and residential development, including the planning, siting, and permitting of transmission and other energy related projects. The firm lists NYRI as a “project highlight” on its website.
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