From the Office of Senator Kerry

Monday, December 18, 2000

Washington, DC – An amendment sponsored by Senator John Kerry with the support of Congressman Bill Delahunt which would transfer the U.S. Coast Guard Station in Scituate to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) passed the Senate in the final FY 2001 Appropriations Omnibus bill.

The Coast Guard plans to relocate from the Scituate station in January 2001. At that time, under the Kerry legislation, the station will be turned over to NOAA. NOAA will use the facility to support the Gerry E. Studds National Marine Sanctuary on Stellwagen Bank. Additionally, NOAA will have to honor the long-standing agreement between the Massachusetts Environmental Police (MEP) and the Coast Guard concerning storage and office space at the station as well as dock space for MEP vessels. Kerry was asked to pursue this transfer by Scituate Town Administrator Richard Agnew.

"This transfer will ensure that NOAA will continue to have a facility to serve as the headquarters for the sanctuary when the Coast Guard relocates," Senator Kerry said. "Bill Delahunt and I are pleased that we were able to see this project through to the end so that NOAA can continue to play a critical role in studying and protecting our oceans. This amendment will guarantees their continued presence in Scituate and honors the legacy of dedication to these issues of former Representative Gerry Studds."

"It came down to the wire, the last day of a lame duck congressional session, to make certain this transfer could proceed smoothly," Delahunt said. "This conveyance works well for Scituate, for the marine sanctuary, and for all of us concerned with coastal protection."

Senator Kerry was a conferee to the conference committee that authorized the final legislative language.

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