OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Senators Kennedy, Kerry and Congressmen Frank, McGovern and Markey React to Today's FERC DEcision

Date: Jan. 20, 2006
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Oil and Gas


January 20, 2006

SENATORS KENNEDY, KERRY AND CONGRESSMEN FRANK, MCGOVERN AND MARKEY REACT TO TODAY'S FERC DECISION

Washington, DC-Senators Kennedy and Kerry and Congressmen Frank, McGovern and Markey today issued the following statements after the vote of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to deny the City of Fall River's request for a rehearing on a proposed Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) import facility at Weaver's Cove:

"We are disappointed by today's FERC actions, but not terribly surprised. We felt it was necessary to have a fair hearing, and the city's request was certainly reasonable. It is not a surprise, however, that the Bush appointees on the commission were in line with the requests of a major energy company, and against the wishes of the people of southeastern Massachusetts. We will continue to work with Senators Kennedy and Kerry, the Massachusetts Congressional delegation and local officials to preserve the Brightman Street Bridge as a pedestrian and bicycle thoroughfare and emergency access route for the people of Fall River," said Reps. Barney Frank and Jim McGovern.

"I'm very disappointed by FERC's 2-1 decision, and I remain committed to standing with Mayor Lambert, Congressman McGovern, Congressman Frank, and Senator Kerry to prevent this project from undermining the safety of the people of Fall River," said Senator Kennedy.

"I am really disappointed that the FERC confirmed its short-sighted decision on the Fall River facility. It continues to amaze me that in the post-9/11 world such a significant threat to our homeland security is being virtually ignored. We will all continue working together and doing absolutely everything we can to fight this from being built in Fall River," said Senator Kerry

"The decision of the FERC to block a conversation on the siting one of these facilities in Fall River is shortsighted and dangerous. In the event of a terrorist attack, it will be the local police, fire department and emergency medical technicians that will be responding, not the FERC police, FERC fire department and the FERC first responders - these important local authorities should not be denied the opportunity to play a role in this decision," said Congressman Markey.

http://www.house.gov/frank/FERC-1-19-2006.html

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