News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2007 September 20

Contacts:

Robert Godfrey, webmaster & researcher 207-853-2922 Linda Godfrey, coordinator 207-853-2574

Downeast LNG State Withdrawal Request Denied

Save Passamaquoddy Bay 3-Nation Alliance (SPB) announced that at the September 20th Maine Board of Environmental Protection (BEP) hearing, the BEP voted to deny a request by Downeast LNG (DeLNG) to withdraw their application from the State of Maine permitting process, in order to reapply and start over.

SPB webmaster Robert Godfrey stated, "DeLNG has made four previous unsuccessfull attempts to inappropriately use the the back door in this process. Having failed in all their previous attempts, they tried this time to withdraw their application and start over, essentially reducing the extensive BEP hearing to a 'dry run.' By doing so, they would be diminishing the significance of permit hearings, while simultaneously creating unreasonable expense and burden to the state, intervenors, and the public.

"Even though DeLNG knew the exact issues and requirements they needed to address long before they filed their permit application, they chose not to answer a number of critical concerns during the application and hearing process," Godfrey continued.

"The BEP decision means that the state permitting process will continue to its conclusion and will result in a decision some time in 2008," continued Godfrey.

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