New York State Governor Transcripts of Minutes and Public Hearings of Public Authorities A0706

New York State Governor Transcripts of Minutes and Public Hearings of Public Authorities

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Overview of the Records

Repository:

New York State Archives
New York State Education Department
Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230

Summary:

This series contains minutes of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the Atomic and Space Development Authority. Also included are transcripts of hearings of the Power Authority of New York State and some printed proposed contracts between the Power Authority and potential customers. The governor's office maintained these files to monitor activities of public authorities and to exercise the governor's power to approve or veto decisions made at meetings of public authorities.

Title:

Transcripts of minutes and public hearings of public authorities

Quantity:

9 cubic feet

Inclusive Dates:

1951-1974

Series Number:

A0706

Arrangement

Arranged by authority, then rough chronological order.

Biographical Sketch

The Port of New York Authority was established in 1921 (Chapter 154) by means of a compact between the states of New York and New Jersey to provide and maintain transportation, terminal, and other facilities within the Port of New York district. A 1927 law (Chapter 700) stipulated that no action taken at any Port Authority meeting by any commissioner appointed from New York State could take effect until the governor had the opportunity to approve or veto such action. The authority was required to send copies of minutes of meetings to the governor for review of all such actions. The authority was renamed the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey by legislation of 1972 (Chapter 154).

A law of 1962 (Chapter 210) amending the Public Authorities Law established the New York State Atomic and Space Development Authority to encourage the maximum development and use of atomic energy for peaceful and productive purposes within the state. New section 1853 of the Public Authorities Law gave the governor approval or veto power over all actions taken at meetings of the authority, which was required to send the governor minutes of meetings for review. In 1975 (Chapter 864) the authority was restructured and renamed the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, with its primary purpose being the development of new energy technologies and the promotion of energy conservation.

The Power Authority of the State of New York was created in 1931 (Chapter 772) to develop hydroelectric power along the St. Lawrence River. In 1951 the Power Authority was authorized to develop additional power resources of the Niagara River and to preserve and enhance the scenic beauty of Niagara Falls. The Federal Power Commission licensed the Power Authority to construct, maintain, and operate the St. Lawrence River Power Project in 1953 and the Niagara Power Project in 1958.

Scope and Content Note

Port Authority records in this series consist of minutes of meetings of the authority and its committees (construction, finance, operations, and port planning). Minutes are from meetings held between 1959 and 1974 and concern such issues as: construction status and needs of Kennedy and LaGuardia airports, Lincoln Tunnel, Port Authority Bus Terminal, George Washington Bridge, and other Port District airports, marine terminals, and facilities; construction of the World Trade Center; construction budget details; contracting for construction work; federal aid for construction; acquisition of commuter railroad cars; settlement and status of legal claims against the Port Authority, e.g. for injuries sustained in Port Authority facilities; issuance and retirement of Port Authority bonds; investment activities; recommendations for improvements to facilities; leases or agreements with Port Authority facility tenants, equipment rental companies, etc.; and personnel transactions.

Atomic and Space Development Authority records in this series consist of minutes of meetings held in 1974 concerning such issues as: identification and development of sites for nuclear power plants; issuing of bonds to finance construction of facilities, installation of pollution control devices, etc.; operation of the authority's Western New York Nuclear Service Center, including plutonium storage and storage of high level liquid wastes; power plant site inventory program; electrical power supply and related environmental research; and change in focus of the authority from nuclear development to environmental protection issues relating to supply of electrical energy, and the need for changes in the enabling legislation to reflect changes in the authority's activities.

Power Authority of the State of New York records in this series date from 1951-1964 and include: transcripts of hearings before the Federal Power Commission regarding proposed Power Authority hydroelectric project on the Niagara River (1957); transcripts of hearings regarding proposed contracts with power companies, power cooperatives, corporations, municipalities, and the United States Air Force for sale, transmission, and distribution of power by the Power Authority (1955-1964); transcripts of congressional hearings regarding development of Niagara River power facilities (1951-1957); proposed contracts for sale, transmission, and distribution of Niagara Project power (contracts NS-1 to NS-29) and St. Lawrence Power Project power (contracts S-1 to S-22) (1955-1964); memorandum (report) to Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller regarding proposed contract NS-1 between the Power Authority and Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation (1960); and report on transmission of St. Lawrence Power Project power to the Vermont Public Service Commission, the City of Plattsburgh (N.Y.), and the United States Air Force Base at Plattsburgh (1955).