NH DELEGATION URGES KINDER MORGAN TO HOLD ADDITIONAL PUBLIC MEETINGS ON PROPOSED PIPELINE ROUTE
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 urging Kinder Morgan to hold additional public meetings in the coming months in communities that could be affected by the proposed Northeast Energy Direct Project. In a letter to Public Affairs Director Allen Fore, the delegation members requested that Kinder Morgan hold a second round of open house meetings in potentially affected communities to ensure that New Hampshire residents have ample opportunity to understand, assess and comment on the project before any final decision is made regarding the project’s route.
“As of the date of this letter, Kinder Morgan has hosted five open houses in the New Hampshire communities of Hudson, Londonderry, Milford, Rindge and Winchester. In order for New Hampshire citizens to have the same opportunity that Massachusetts residents had to evaluate this project in full, more time is required,” the delegation members wrote. “With that in mind, we respectfully request that Kinder Morgan hold a second round of open houses during the coming months in potentially affected communities to allow New Hampshire residents to better review and understand information, assess potential impact and meaningfully express their views in an open and transparent setting. Furthermore, town administrators and officials should have the most up-to-date and accurate information about how their communities will be impacted as this process moves forward. Therefore, we request that Kinder Morgan schedules meetings with any impacted towns that make the request.”
Last month, the delegation wrote to Kinder Morgan and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to ask for more time to allow New Hampshire residents to better understand the proposed project and express their views and concerns.
DELEGATION LETTER TO KINDER MORGAN:
February 27, 2015
Mr. Allen Fore, Director
Public Affairs
Kinder Morgan
3250 Lacey Road, Suite 700
Downers Grove, IL 60515
Dear Mr. Fore:
We are writing to request that Kinder Morgan provide New Hampshire residents a full opportunity to meaningfully express their views regarding the 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. Specifically, we request that Kinder Morgan hold a second round of open house meetings in the coming months in potentially affected communities.
On December 8, 2014, Kinder Morgan filed a New Hampshire Powerline Alternative route with FERC. The new proposal shifts much of the pipeline’s proposed route out of northern Massachusetts – where it was originally planned – to southern New Hampshire. Previously, on January 14, 2015 the New Hampshire congressional delegation requested that Kinder Morgan provide the public, municipal officials, and our offices with additional information regarding the timeline for the current pre-filing phase and urged it to extend the timeline to ensure that New Hampshire residents have ample opportunity and more time to understand, assess and comment on this project before any decisions are made finalizing the project or its route.
As of the date of this letter, Kinder Morgan has hosted five open houses in the New Hampshire communities of Hudson, Londonderry, Milford, Rindge and Winchester. In order for New Hampshire citizens to have the same opportunity that Massachusetts residents had to evaluate this project in full, more time is required.
With that in mind, we respectfully request that Kinder Morgan hold a second round of open houses during the coming months in potentially affected communities to allow New Hampshire residents to better review and understand information, assess potential impact and meaningfully express their views in an open and transparent setting. Furthermore, town administrators and officials should have the most up-to-date and accurate information about how their communities will be impacted as this process moves forward. Therefore, we request that Kinder Morgan schedules meetings with any impacted towns that make the request. Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Kelly A. Ayotte
United States Senator
Jeanne Shaheen
United States Senator
Ann McLane Kuster
Member of Congress
Frank Guinta
Member of Congress
