Local, State, and Federal Agency approvals research aimed at discovering potential environmental impacts has dominated the university's work on the LSC Project since 1994. This research and the applications outlined in the following chart include
- twelve major permits or reviews, as required by local, state, and federal agencies and multiple other non-discretionary permits or approvals
- New York State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR)
- Draft Environmental Impact Statement (dEIS)
| PERMIT/APPROVAL | REGULATORY AUTHORITY | ACTION(S) |
| Protection of Waters Joint Permit (Terrestrial Construction) | NYSDEC; USACOE | " Stream bank/bed disturbances " Placement of fill in stream (Pleasant Grove Stream) " Water-quality certification for construction in navigable waters |
| Protection of Waters Joint Permit (Lake Construction) | NYSDEC; USACOE |
" Excavation of lake shore |
| General Storm Water Discharge Permit No. GP-93-06/ Notice of Intent, (For Construction Activities) | NYSDEC | Lake Source Cooling construction activities |
| SPDES Permit (Industrial) | NYSDEC | Facility operation |
| Underwater Land Easement | NYS OGS | Installation, operation, and maintenance of intake and outfall |
| Water Withdrawal Registration | NYSDEC | Water use in Great Lakes watershed |
| Wild, Scenic, Recreational River Crossing Permit | City of Ithaca | Pipeline crossing above Fall Creek (under Lake Street bridge between existing girders) |
| Cultural Resource Survey | NYS Office of Parks/Recreation | Project construction |
| Highway Crossing Permit | NYSDOT | Underground highway crossings by terrestrial pipeline |
| Street Opening Permit | City of Ithaca Department of Public Works |
Construction beneath city streets and in rights-of-way |
| City Street Easement; Infrastructure Replacement |
City of Ithaca Common Council |
Operation of chilled-water lines beneath city streets; infrastructure replacement associated with piping installation. |
| Site Plan Approval | Town of Ithaca Town Board and Planning Board |
Development of land within town |
| Subdivision Approval | Town of Ithaca Planning Board |
Subdivision of land within town |
| Zoning Change | Town of Ithaca Town Board |
Creation of Special Land Use District for heat-exchange facility |
| Building Permits | Town of Ithaca | Construction of heat-exchange facility |
| Property Easement | Cayuga Heights Village Board |
Terrestrial pipeline construction and operation within village property |
| Property Easement | ICSD Board | Terrestrial pipeline construction and operation within ICSD property |
| ICSD | Ithaca City School District |
| NYSDEC | New York State Department of Environmental Conservation |
| NYSDOT | New York State Department of Transportation |
| NYS OGS | New York State Office of General Services |
| SPDES | State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System |
| USACOE | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
