Gulf Restoration Network

Help Save One of America's Last, Large Free-Flowing Rivers

Right now, the Pascagoula River and Mississippi Sound are threatened by the Department of Energy plan to store oil in an underground salt dome near Richton, Mississippi. Citizens from across the state have spoken out against this expensive and environmentally destructive project, yet Congress continues to approve more and more funding. Even though this project has yet to receive final approval, Congress has already allocated over $80 million dollars towards the salt dome project!

It is time for our representatives to halt the funding for this irresponsible project and listen to the voice of the people by holding Congressional field hearings. By sending a message to your congressional representative, you can help put a halt to this salt dome madness and preserve the Mississippi Sound and the Pascagoula River for future generations.

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July 30, 2010

Subject:

To whom it may concern:

I am writing to express my serious concerns about the US Department of Energy’s plan to construct a series of salt caverns to store oil in Richton, Mississippi. This project would not only have substantial environmental and economic impacts, but would also represent an inappropriate expenditure of tax-payer monies. In my opinion, there are more cost-effective ways to invest in our nation’s energy security – including the expansion of existing Strategic Petroleum Reserve sites and investments in fuel efficiency and clean energy technologies.

For these reasons and more, I humbly request your support and leadership in opposing this project as currently conceived and opposing any further Congressional action to fund the Richton project.  Specifically, I ask that you partner with other congressional leaders to hold a congressional field hearing in coastal Mississippi to discuss the Richton salt dome project and its potential impacts. A congressional field hearing would be an ideal venue to reach consensus on this issue.

The Department of Energy is currently undertaking a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to study the potential environmental effects of this project, and, until this process is completed, the project does not have approval to move forward under federal law. Despite this lack of approval, Congress has allocated millions of dollars in funding for the Richton project. In fact, Congress approved $31.5 million to “initiate new site expansions activities, beyond land acquisition” for fiscal year 2009.  In addition, the Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2010 includes $25 million for “engineering and site characterization” on the Richton project. This project should not receive further funding until the DOE releases the SEIS and the public is given a chance to weigh in on the environmental impacts.   
  
There is already significant local opposition to the Richton project. It is time for Congress to listen to the concerns of its constituents by halting further funding for the project and holding congressional field hearings in coastal Mississippi. Thank you for support and leadership on this important issue.

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