BOSTON - Senators John Kerry and Edward Kennedy today wrote a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff, urging him to award the City of Gloucester $1 million as part of the "Port Security Grant Program." 

The city is home to the Suez Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal, and
is in close proximity to two newly opened off-shore LNG terminals. The
Seabrook Nuclear Power Plan, identified as a hazard by a Mass. Municipal Group Study, is also nearby. Gloucester is also an overflow port for Boston, which only increases the demands of the city's emergency response resources.

The increased federal support would allow the city to keep up with the
rising costs associated with security for the city's numerous at-risk
sectors. 

The letter came at the request of Gloucester Mayor Carolyn Kirk.

"Gloucester needs federal help in keeping up with the city's growing
homeland security risks. Providing additional federal funding to the
city would provide it with the resources to ensure that the residents of
Gloucester are safe and secure," said Senator Kerry.

"Protection of Gloucester's energy and transportation assets should not fall entirely on the shoulders of its residents," said Senator Kennedy.
"This federal funding will go a long way in providing security to these
resources essential to the Commonwealth."

It is important that homeland security money go to where it is needed
most," said Mayor Carolyn Kirk. "Gloucester is an urban port but we are
characterized as a suburban area, and that is the basis for my request
which I hope the federal government will be responsive to."

The text of the letter is as follows:

The Honorable Michael Chertoff
Secretary U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, DC 20528

Dear Secretary Chertoff:

I write to respectfully request that you consider providing $1 million
in funding for the city of Gloucester, Massachusetts under the "All
Others" category of the Port Security Grant Program (PSGP).

Most of Gloucester's residents live in an urban core concentrated around its port area and, during the summer months, visitors double its population of 32,000 residents. This urban core qualifies as a low and
moderate income area as defined by HUD standards.

Moreover, Gloucester houses numerous at-risk assets. It is situated
near two newly-opened offshore LNG terminals, and will serve as the hub port of operations for the Suez LNG terminal. The Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant, identified as a hazard by a Mass. Municipal Group study, is also located nearby. In fact, FEMA has identified a number of
Gloucester facilities as critical infrastructure: a major seaport; a
state highway system; a commuter rail line; several large reservoirs; a
natural gas pipeline; and a portside terminal.

These growing critical infrastructure assets, along with Gloucester's
status as a first responder hub and overflow port for Boston, increase
the demands placed on the area's emergency response resources. As a result, city officials estimate that the costs associated with these
growing homeland security requirements increase by $1 million each year. 

These escalating expenses come at a time when Gloucester is facing a substantial budget deficit. Without increased federal support, the city
simply will not have sufficient resources to respond to growing national
security risks.

Thank you for your careful consideration of this request. Please do not
hesitate to contact our offices if you have any questions or require
further information.

Sincerely,

John F. Kerry
United States Senator 

Edward M. Kennedy
United States Senator