NEW HAMPSHIRE DELEGATION CALLS FOR TRANSPARENCY FOR PROPOSED PIPELINE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to concerns from New Hampshire residents, U.S. Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Representatives Annie Kuster (D-NH) and Frank Guinta (R-NH) are calling for an open and transparent process before any final decision is made regarding the route for Kinder Morgan’s proposed Northeast Energy Direct Project.  In letters to Kinder Morgan Public Affairs Director Allen Fore and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Cheryl LaFleur, the delegation urged Kinder Morgan and regulators to allow Granite Staters ample opportunity to express their views about the proposed pipeline, and work with all stakeholders to address the concerns of affected communities as the permitting process for the project continues. 

“It is imperative that the proposed Northeast Energy Direct Project go through a thorough federal review that provides affected stakeholders in New Hampshire with a meaningful opportunity to participate and express their views.  This requires both FERC and Kinder Morgan to conduct an open and transparent process,” the delegation wrote.  “Therefore, we request that Kinder Morgan provide the public, municipal officials in potentially affected municipalities, and our offices with additional information on the timeline for the current pre-filing phase, and we urge you to extend that timeline to ensure that New Hampshire’s residents have a full and equal opportunity to understand, assess, and comment on this project before any decisions are made finalizing the project or its route.”

The full text of the letter is below.

January 14, 2015

Mr. Allen Fore, Director

Public Affairs

Kinder Morgan

3250 Lacey Road, Suite 700

Downers Grove, Il  60515

Dear Mr. Fore:

We request that Kinder Morgan provide New Hampshire stakeholders a full opportunity to meaningfully express their views regarding Kinder Morgan’s proposed Northeast Energy Direct Project, Docket N. PF14-22-000, before any final or binding decision is made regarding the route for this pipeline project.

On December 8, 2014, Kinder Morgan filed a New Hampshire Powerline Alternative route with FERC.  The new proposal shifts much of the pipeline out of northern Massachusetts – where it was originally planned – to southern New Hampshire.  Specifically, the new proposed route would impact the following towns and cities in New Hampshire: Winchester, Richmond, Troy, Fitzwilliam, Rindge, New Ipswich, Greenville, Mason, Milford, Brookline, Amherst, Merrimack, Litchfield, Londonderry, Hudson, Windham, Pelham, and Salem.

The citizens and municipalities along the initial proposed route benefited from several months to receive and review information, to analyze and deliberate, and to ask questions and express concerns.  We strongly believe the citizens and municipalities in New Hampshire, many of whom have just learned that they may be directly impacted by this pipeline project, deserve an equal opportunity.

It is imperative that the proposed Northeast Energy Direct Project go through a thorough federal review that provides affected stakeholders in New Hampshire with a meaningful opportunity to participate and express their views.  This requires both FERC and Kinder Morgan to conduct an open and transparent process.  Therefore, we request that Kinder Morgan provide the public, municipal officials in potentially affected municipalities, and our offices with additional information on the timeline for the current pre-filing phase, and we urge you to extend that timeline to ensure that New Hampshire’s residents have a full and equal opportunity to understand, assess, and comment on this project before any decisions are made finalizing the project or its route.

Please note that a similar correspondence has been sent to the Commissioners of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission requesting their timely cooperation to ensure the application and review process moves forward in a thorough and deliberate manner.

Sincerely,

Kelly Ayotte

Jeanne Shaheen

Ann McLane Kuster

Frank Guinta

 

CC:

Chairman Cheryl A. LaFleur, FERC

Commissioner Philip D. Moeller, FERC

Commissioner Tony Clark, FERC

Commissioner Norman C. Bay, FERC

Commissioner Colette D. Honorable, FERC