Letter to John Kerry, Secretary of the US Department of State - Transparent Environmental, Safety Review of Possible Flow Reversal of Portland-Montreal Pipeline

Letter

The Honorable John Kerry
Secretary
United States Department of State
2201 C Street NH
Washington, DC 20520

Dear Secretary Kerry,

We write regarding our concern that the Portland Pipe Line Corporation (PPLC) may seek approval to change the direction and content of the Portland-Montreal pipeline. Should this occur, we request that a new Presidential Permit be required in order to allow for a complete review of the proposal.

While PPLC has not provided an official notice of their intent to change pipeline operations, we are concerned that recent actions by the National Energy Board of Canada indicate that PPLC may soon pursue a flow reversal and substance change. If such a request were to occur, it is important for the State Department to conduct a transparent and thorough environmental and safety review of the proposal as part of a new Presidential Permit process.

The National Energy Board of Canada recently approved the reversal and transport of diluted bitumen and conventional crude oil for a pipeline which connects to the Portland-Montreal pipeline in Montreal. PPLC and its Canadian Partners have publically expressed interest in transporting diluted bitumen from Alberta, Canada to Portland, Maine.

As you know, the Portland-Montreal pipeline was approved under a 1999 Presidential Permit to transport conventional crude oil northwest from Portland Harbor in Maine to Canada, passing through Vermont and five northern New Hampshire towns--Shelburne, Gorham, Randolph, Jefferson and Lancaster.

The transport of diluted bitumen southward through the Portland-Montreal pipeline would be a substantial shift from the pipeline's current use. Such changes also pose risks to our constituents' health, the environment and wildlife, which is why we believe the proposal should warrant a comprehensive review as required by the Presidential Permit process.

Thank you for your consideration of our request.

Sincerely,