LNG information sessions to be held -- The Quoddy Tides, Eastport, Maine

Quoddy Bay LLC has announced it will hold a series of open houses and information sessions the week of February 13. Quoddy Bay proposes to construct a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility at Split Rock at Pleasant Point and a storage facility on land located off the Old Toll Bridge road in Perry.

All the scheduled meetings will involve a project overview presentation, informational handouts and a question-and-answer session. These open houses are the first public participation step of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) pre-filing process and are designed to inform area residents about the project's development.

FERC employee Robert Kopka, who serves as the project manager for the Quoddy Bay project, will be at all the meetings to answer questions, as will be a representative of the U.S. Department of Transportation who will address pipeline safety matters.

Tamara Young-Allen, spokesperson for FERC, says she understands Quoddy Bay LLC hopes to file its formal application in August of this year.

Open house and public informational sessions will be held at the following locations from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.: Monday, February 13, at the Pleasant Point Recreation Center; Wednesday, February 15, Perry Elementary School gymnasium; Thursday, February 16, Charlotte Elementary School gymnasium; and Friday, February 17, at the Maple Leaf Hall at Campobello (6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Atlantic Time).

"These open houses are part of the very structured and straightforward permitting process," states Quoddy Bay LNG project manager Brian Smith. "We look forward to meeting and talking with our neighbors about the integrity of our project including the economic benefits, while providing information about the FERC process."

Linda Godfrey of the Save Passamaquoddy Bay 3-Nation Alliance (SPB) organization says SPB is encouraging people to attend these meetings for an opportunity to ask questions of the FERC staff and their technical consultants. Godfrey is surpised that Quoddy Bay LLC announced the meetings on such short notice. "It seems inappropriate and not in keeping with any aspect of community involvement."

Quoddy Bay has also announced the appointment of Andrea Barstow of Perry as director of community relations. She will work out of Quoddy Bay's recently opened office at the former Lobster Crate restaurant on Route 190 in Perry.