Richard Berry's Comments at December 28, 2005 LNG Meeting

Good Evening,

My name is Richard Berry and along with my wife, Katherine, we are coordinators and members of Save Passamaquoddy Bay- Robbinston, which is affiliated with Save Passamaquoddy Bay, a 3-Nation Alliance.

Members of Save Passamaquoddy Bay-Robbinston have to date (12/28/2005) not been duly informed of the status of our legally presented petition to the Town of Robbinston asking for a vote on an LNG terminal operation in Robbinston only following the completion and distribution of The Whole Bay Study in spring, 2006. Nor have our members been duly informed of our request for a quasi-judicial hearing prior to said vote. Save Passamaquoddy Bay- Robbinston asks the question, "Why have our rights as citizens been ignored?"

At this time of year when some families are away, visitors are present, and activities of this season are focused on celebrations, vacations and sacred observances, Save Passamaquoddy Bay formally registers its complaint on the time timing of this meeting, and asks the question "Why is this gathering being called in such haste?"

We also formally register a complaint that this gathering and the proposed vote January 10^th have been orchestrated to intentionally exclude property owners and tax payers who are summer residents of Robbinston. And we ask, "Why are these Robbinston residents being excluded?

From the November report commissioned by Downeast LNG, we quote the final paragraph:

(Quote) "When considering and interpreting the study findings, it is important to understand that there may be other economic and non-economic impacts beyond those covered in this report. Other issues that were not address in the report include environmental, homeland security, and energy security impacts of an LNG facility. Thus, findings presented in the report should be interpreted as a part, but not the whole, of the evidence in evaluating the effect of the proposed LNG facility" (End of Quote)

And so, if the report itself cautions that there is much more to evaluate, we ask the question: "Why should this community vote before critical information is known?"

In his letter to the editor in the Quoddy Tides of December 23^rd , developer Girdis says himself, (Quote) "Downeast LNG has already initiated studies on endangered species (plants and mammals), wetlands, marine fauna and flora, bathymetry, waterway suitability and soils. And additional 17 environmental studies covering topics including transportation, cultural resources, socioeconomics, seismicity, land use, tourism, air quality, meteorology, water quality, visual recourses, noise, recreational resources, terrestrial ecology, fisheries, topography, energy alternaTives, siting alternatives and hydrology will be conducted throughout at least 2006." (End quote)

With all of these life changing considerations, possible costs, and possible losses to be steadied, we ask, "Why should residents of Robbinston be asked to vote before this information is made public?"

Members of Save Passamaquoddy Bay-Robbinston do not accept this information session on this date (12-28-05) to be an official hearing. Rather, we define it as a public relations gathering hosted by the developer.

Members of Save Passamaquoddy Bay-Robbinston are here this evening to witness the process used at this meeting, and to document the material presented.

Therefore it is the decision of Save Passamaquoddy Bay-Robbinston that this statement will be our only official comment tonight.

We will use legal means to redress our grievances related to our rights in this matter.

I am presenting a copy of this statement to the First Selectman, with copies present to any media present.

Richard Berry, Save Passamaquoddy-Robbinston