CONCORD, New Hampshire — New Hampshire's congressional delegation is asking the federal Department of Energy to extend the time the public has before commenting on what is expected to be a voluminous environmental impact report on the proposed Northern Pass power transmission project.
Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Kelly Ayotte, along with Reps. Annie Custer and Frank Guinta, have written to energy officials in anticipation of the release this spring of a report they say will exceed 2,000 pages. They say it's "imperative" that DOE allow more than the usual 60-day period before the start of public hearings on the report.
They are asking for a period of at least 90 days after the release of the draft report before hearings begin. They are also requesting that the public be allowed to have at least 90 days after the final public hearing to file additional comments.