| Public
Participation in Public Service Board Proceedings
Members
of the public have a number of different opportunities to
participate in cases before the Vermont Public Service Board
(PSB). Some opportunities for public input have already been
completed in Docket 7032 and some remain.
The
PSB and the Department of Public Service (DPS) take both written
and oral comments from the general public. While these comments
do not become a part of the formal evidentiary
record, in analyzing and deciding upon a 248
petition, the Department of Public Service and the PSB
often rely on these comments as a guide for areas to explore
in developing evidence for the record.
The
public can submit written comments to the PSB electronically
or via regular mail. When submitting comments, it is helpful
to reference Docket 7032.
Vermont
Public Service Board
112 State Street, Drawer 20
Montpelier, VT 05620-2701
The
Vermont Department of Public Service also welcomes written
comments on the case from the public, either electronically
or via regular mail. Please reference Docket 7032 when
submitting comments.
Vermont
Department of Public Service
112 State St., Drawer 20
Montpelier, VT 05620-2601
(802) 828 2811
Other
forms of public involvement in 248 proceedings
Individuals and organizations can file a request with the
PSB to be interveners,
which gives these individuals formal party
status as participants in the case. Affected towns and local
planning commissions often intervene. Landowners, environmental
organizations, and public interest groups may be allowed to
intervene and become parties if they can demonstrate that
they have a significant interest that may be adversely affected
by the outcome of the case. Intervener status is considered
appropriate if the proceeding represents the only means to
protect that interest, and if the interest is not adequately
represented by the other existing parties.
Regarding
the Lamoille Transmission Upgrade
project, the deadline for requesting intervener status
was February 9, 2005. The PSB permitted various entities and
individuals to intervene. [Click
here for a list of parties in the case.] Once the deadline
has passed for intervention requests, formal participation
in the case is limited to those who have been granted intervener
status in the case or otherwise are recognized as parties
by the PSB. Occasionally the PSB re-opens the opportunity
for intervention, usually because of the initiation of a new
phase of a case.
By law (Section 248 of Title
30, Vermont statutes), the PSB in 248 proceedings must hold
a public hearing in at
least one county where the project for which approval is sought
will be located. In this case, the project will be entirely
in Lamoille County. The PSB held a public hearing on the Lamoille
Project in Waterbury on February 9, 2005. |
