Save Passamaquoddy Bay
Alliance to Protect the Quoddy Region
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News Release
2005 July 22
SEN. SNOWE ASSISTS WITH BIA LAND LEASE APPEAL
An aide to Senator Olympia Snowe has helped the Save Passamaquoddy Bay 3-Nation Alliance register an appeal with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) regarding its approval of the land lease agreement between Pleasant Point Passamaquoddy Reservation and Quoddy Bay LLC.
Snowe's office advised Save Passamaquoddy Bay that there's a 30-day time limit after one has learned that the lease was signed by the BIA. Thus, since the lease signing was announced to the Passamaquoddy Bay area public on July 7, people have until August 7 to register their appeals with the BIA.
The Senator's office advised those who file appeals to word their requests, "I am seeking relief from the BIA's decision," and should ask the BIA to "reverse their decision or to remand the decision back to the original director at the BIA." The original director in this case is Regional Director Franklin Keel.
Snowe's office also advised that the BIA will pay more attention to appeal requests that come from people whose lives would be directly affected by the proposed LNG project (such as those whose homes or work places would fall within the 1-mile hazard areas -- as specified in the Sandia National Laboratories' 2004 report to government -- from the LNG tanker shipping lane, from the docked LNG tanker, or around the proposed LNG facility; and, also from people whose livelihood would be negatively affected by the proposed LNG project.
Pleasant Point Passamaquoddy elder and Tribal Councilor Hilda Lewis stated, "I am very grateful to Senator Snowe's office for advising us on appealing the BIA's lease approval, and will be thankful to anyone who wishes to join us in our appeal effort."
Appeals should be mailed to:
Franklin Keel, Regional Director
Bureau of Indian Affairs
545 Marriott Dr., Ste. 700
Nashville, TN 37214
Anyone wishing to add their signature to a letter of appeal originating from the Save Passamaquoddy Bay 3-Nation Alliance, or for advice on crafting their own letter of appeal, may contact the Alliance offices no later than Monday, August 1, at (207)853-4123.
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