SHAHEEN CALLS FOR NEW U.S. BORDER PATROL STATION IN COLEBROOK

(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen yesterday called for the establishment of a new U.S. Border Patrol Station in Colebrook, New Hampshire in a letter to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner W. Ralph Basham.  A new station in Colebrook would expand coverage along the New Hampshire and Canadian border, which is currently monitored only by the existing Beecher Falls, Vermont Border Patrol Station. Additionally, an environmental assessment performed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security notes that the new Colebrook location would benefit from easy access to utilities such as electric and water, suitable topography, and a low-visibility, private location – critical features for a facility that will include a firing range and helicopter pad.

The full text of the letter to Commissioner Basham follows:

February 2, 2009

W. Ralph Basham

Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20229

Dear Commissioner Basham:

I am writing in support of a new U.S. Border Patrol Station in Colebrook, New Hampshire.  I understand that Colebrook is the preferred location for the new station based on the environmental assessment of 2008, and I would like to take a moment to expand on and reiterate some of the assessment’s main points. 

As the environmental assessment states, the Colebrook location offers several site advantages.  A station in Colebrook would benefit from easy access to utilities such as electric and water, suitable topography, and a low-visibility, private location – critical for a facility that will include a firing range and helicopter pad. 

In addition, the assessment notes that the existing Beecher Falls, Vermont Border Patrol Station is responsible not only for the international boundary between Vermont and Canada, but also for the border between New Hampshire and Canada as well as portions of Carroll and Grafton Counties where agents assist local law enforcement with security and immigration matters.  It would therefore make sense for the Border Patrol to maintain one of its facilities in New Hampshire and one in Vermont to provide agents with greater access to the areas under their jurisdiction.  It would also increase the visibility of the Border Patrol in New Hampshire – providing a potentially greater hiring pool and increasing agents’ familiarity with their coverage area. 

Finally, development plans for the New Hampshire site would be subject only to the approval of the local Colebrook planning board rather than any state entities, increasing the likelihood of an expedited construction process. 

For these reasons, I strongly encourage you to select Colebrook, New Hampshire for the site of the new Border Patrol Station.  I look forward to your decision and please do not hesitate to contact me with any additional questions or if I can provide any assistance. 

Sincerely,

Senator Jeanne Shaheen