The Seneca Nation Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has initiated a public review

The Seneca Nation Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has initiated a public review

process for the proposed "National Fuel RM32 Interconnect Project", a construction initiative

submitted by National Fuel Gas Supply Corp. The project entails the construction of a natural

gas interconnection station and improvements to the access road which will include the

upgrade of an existing deteriorated culvert and including the construction of a new culvert

which crosses Unnamed Tributary to Cattaraugus Creek in the hamlet of Irving, NY and within

the territory of the Nation.

As the project falls under the jurisdiction of the federal Clean Water Act (CWA),

specifically Section 404, it requires certification from the Seneca Nation to ensure compliance

with the Nation's water quality standards. In accordance with CWA § 401, the EPD is soliciting

comments from the public and relevant agencies regarding its proposed certification of the

CWA § 404 permit for this project, which is anticipated to proceed under the Nationwide

Permit. EPD's review process aims to assess the project's potential environmental impacts and

ensure that it aligns with the Nation's water quality requirements, and stakeholders are

encouraged to provide input during this critical evaluation phase.

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PUBLIC NOTICE OF PROPOSED CWA § 401 CERTIFICATION

by the

SENECA NATION ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT

Project: On September 11, 2025, the Seneca Nation (Nation) Environmental Protection

Department (EPD) received a completed “Permit Application for Construction Projects Within

Waterways” from National Fuel and Supply Corporation. The Project herein known as “RM32

Seneca Nation Interconnect Project’ or “Project” carries a detailed scope of work which includes

as follows: The Seneca Nation Interconnect Project entails construction of a natural gas

interconnection station of approximately 0.3 acres adjacent to National Fuel’s existing Line RM32

within the Seneca Nation’s Cattaraugus Territory, together with improvements to an existing twotrack access road—approximately 1,000 feet of minor grading and gravel surfacing to establish a

permanent 12-foot-wide roadway and an 850-foot eastern extension following existing ATV

trails—to provide safe, reliable access and facilitate electrical interconnection with National Grid

overhead lines; associated work within a granted permanent easement includes replacement of a

deteriorated 24-inch steel culvert with a 24-inch corrugated plastic pipe, installation of a new

permanent culvert at a delineated stream (Unnamed Tributary to Cattaraugus Creek), repair of

ATV trail rutting, placement of a 3-inch underground electrical conduit, construction of a new

4-inch gas main from a tap on the 16-inch RM32 pipeline, and connection of the existing 8-inch

distribution main, with total temporary and permanent disturbance not to exceed 2.2 acres within

Seneca Nation territory, as detailed in the project drawings. The location for this project is in the

hamlet of Irving, NY and within the territory of the Nation.

The Project is anticipated to proceed under the CWA § 404 Nationwide Permit (NWP). Federal

Clean Water Act (CWA) requires certification under CWA § 401 from the Nation that the Project

will meet the Nation’s water quality requirements. Accordingly, EPD seeks public and agency

comments regarding its proposed certification of the CWA § 404 permit at issue.

CWA § 401 Water Quality Certification: Under CWA § 401, a federal agency may not issue a

permit or license to conduct any activity which may result in any discharge into waters of the

United States unless a Section 401 water quality certification is issued or waived by the state or

authorized tribe where the discharge will originate. The Nation was approved to administer a CWA

§ 401 program on March 12, 2021, and has authorized EPD to review and administer permits

pursuant to CWA § 401.

Public Comment Period: Pursuant to CWA § 401(a)(1), the public comment period for the

proposed CWA § 401 certification of the RM32 Seneca Nation Interconnect Project by EPD is

thirty (30) days from the date of publication of this notice in the Community News Section of the

October 31 edition SNI Newsletter and other publicly available locations. Agency representatives

and members of the public are encouraged to submit written comments to EPD, by 4:30pm on

December 1, 2025, as follows:

•

by email at epd@sni.org or

•

by USPS mail to the Seneca Nation Environmental Protection Department, 84 Iroquois

Drive, Irving NY 14081, Attention: Jordan Parker Buffalo, Water Program Manager

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Copies: A copy of this CPWW Application is available under the “documents” tab at the EPD

website, here: https://sni.org/community-services/environmental-protection/ or may be requested

by contacting the email shown above, with the title, “Request for Copy of RM 32 Seneca Nation

Interconnect Project CPWW Application” in the subject line.

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