Ayotte Secures Commitment from Pipeline Safety Administrator Nominee to Visit NH
Nominee Commits to Listening to Local Residents’ Concerns on Proposed Pipeline Project, Safety Issues
WASHINGTON, D.C. – July 23, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — During a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on Wednesday, U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) secured a commitment from Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) Administrator nominee Marie Therese Dominguez that if confirmed, she will visit New Hampshire and listen to local residents’ concerns regarding the safety of Kinder Morgan’s proposed Northeast Energy Direct natural gas pipeline. Ayotte referenced these concerns while questioning Ms. Dominguez at today’s hearing, and also stressed the need for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and PHMSA to work together to address safety concerns. In response, Ms. Dominguez committed to visiting New Hampshire to hear directly from citizens and stakeholders, and to working with FERC to address safety concerns. A full transcript of the exchange can be found here.
“Right now, the [Northeast Energy Direct] project is its pre-filing stage. I’ve heard a lot of concerns from my constituents about…pipeline safety in their communities. In fact, recently…the Merrimack School District voted unanimously to oppose any route to the Kinder Morgan pipeline that comes within 1000 feet of a district school building,” said Ayotte. “So as we talk about PHMSA’s role and overseeing safety, would you agree with me that pipeline routes also can impact safety depending on whether they’re near a school or wetlands and that is an important responsibility, and not just what FERC does, but making sure FERC takes safety into account when they’re looking at a proposed route for a pipeline?”
Ms. Dominguez responded, “Yes, Senator. I appreciate your commitment to safety and making sure that things are sited, as well as constructed, properly. Again, our mission is to make sure that we protect people and the environment from any risk of hazardous materials transportation. So in working with FERC, through the process of actually siting a pipeline, we will bring our safety expertise to bear, as best we can, in partnership with the agency.”
In response to Ayotte’s questioning, Ms. Dominguez also affirmed her commitment to working with FERC and others to ensure the safety of Kinder Morgan’s proposed pipeline.
Additionally this week, Ayotte and the rest of the NH delegation sent a letter to FERC Chairman Norman Bay, inviting him to New Hampshire to hear from residents on the proposed project. On July 15, Ayotte and the NH delegation sent a letter to the Inspector General for the Department of Energy, asking the IG to review FERC’s permitting process for interstate natural gas pipelines.
