Iroquois: PSC lacks authority for penalty. (Iroquois Gas Transmission Company L.P., New York Public Service Commission, environmental violations)

The New York Public Service Commission lacks authority to impose a threatened $1.1 million penalty for environmental violations by Iroquois Gas Transmission System and five contractors.

That's what Iroquois argued in its response to an Aug. 21 PSC order covering 11 alleged violations of the commission's certificate and of the company's environmental management and construction plan (EM&CP).

Iroquois bases its argument on its status as a federally regulated interstate pipeline. In addition, Iroquois has responded to the particulars of the violations, saying the facts alleged in the order are "seriously misstated." The violations related to wetlands protection …