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| May 12, 2008 | |||
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SENATOR COLLINS CALLS FOR REOPENING OF VAN BUREN PORT OF ENTRY
Senator Collins Contacts GSA, CBP about Reopening |
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Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, who is Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, today sent a letter to the top officials at the office of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the General Services Administration (GSA) calling on the agencies to reopen the Van Buren port of entry as soon as possible. She also offered her assistance to help in that effort.
In a letter to the Honorable Ralph Basham, CBP Commissioner and GSA Acting Administrator David Bibb, Senator Collins wrote, “I am writing to ask your urgent assistance to ensure that the Van Buren, Maine, port of entry is reopened as soon as possible. As you know, this port has been closed since May 1, 2008, when flood waters from the St. John River caused damage to the port of entry building and raised uncertainty about the stability of the soil supporting the access road and plaza at the port.” The full text of Senator Collins’ letter is as follows: Dear Commissioner Basham and Acting Director Bibb: I am writing to ask your urgent assistance to ensure that the Van Buren, Maine, port of entry is reopened as soon as possible. As you know, this port has been closed since May 1, 2008, when flood waters from the St. John River caused damage to the port of entry building and raised uncertainty about the stability of the soil supporting the access road and plaza at the port. I appreciate the efforts of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to provide a temporary workspace at the port and to open the port to pedestrian traffic. However, it remains critical for those who live and operate businesses in the area that the port be reopened to vehicular and commercial traffic as soon as possible, so that the economy of the region is not further harmed. Citizens on both sides of the border have used this port for years for routine travel between the United States and Canada. I understand that GSA is conducting a geotechnical assessment of the soil underneath the port of entry building and the plaza area. I ask that this assessment be expedited so that the extent of the damage can be fully understood. Please know that I am prepared to assist in any way possible to ensure that repairs are made promptly and, if the building is determined to be unrepairable, that a permanent structure is acquired. Please keep me informed of your plans and do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of assistance. |
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340 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510