As the result of a provision in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) now has the authority to designate "National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors" (NIETCs). When a part of the country receives a NIETC designation, the federal government is then allowed under certain conditions to overrule local and state objections to proposed power line projects, issue construction permits to energy companies, and grant the use of eminent domain authority, which would allow for the seizure of private property from unwilling owners in order to develop those power lines. In April 2007, the Department of Energy proposed two NIETC designations in the United States, including one in eastern part of the country that includes 47 counties in New York. The proposed NIETC designation for much of New York threatens to pave the way for the permitting and construction of New York Regional Interconnection's (NYRI) proposal of a nearly 200-mile power line that would cut through dozens of communities and the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River. View Map: http://www.house.gov/hinchey/NIETCdesignationmap.pdf NIETCdesignationmap.pdf The DOE is currently accepting comments on the proposed NIETCs. Please make your feelings known!!!! You can do it On Line at: http://nietc.anl.gov/involve/comments/index.cfm NIETC and Congestion Study Public Comment Form