*MEDIA ADVISORY*
Andover, North Andover and Lawrence Officials to Hold Press Conference with Columbia Gas
Settlement Reached to Reimburse Three Communities, Repair Roadways and Restore Neighborhoods
ANDOVER — Leaders in the three communities affected by the Sept. 13 Merrimack Valley Gas Emergency will gather in Andover to address the media and the public regarding a settlement reached with Columbia Gas of Massachusetts and its parent company NiSource Inc. to compensate the communities for road restoration and for municipal claims and costs associated with the response.
WHEN:
TOMORROW — Tuesday, May 7, 2019 at Noon
WHERE:
Andover Public Safety Building
(Fire House Garage Bay)
32 N Main St.
Andover, MA 01810
WHO:
- Andover Town Manager Andrew Flanagan
- Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera
- Interim North Andover Town Manager Lyne Savage
- Police and Fire Chiefs and DPW Directors in all three communities
- Columbia Gas representatives
WHAT:
The Merrimack Valley Gas Emergency necessitated an unprecedented emergency and municipal services response in each of the three affected communities. Significant overtime, staff, contractor, utility, supply, clerical, and other costs were incurred by Andover, North Andover, and Lawrence.
Additionally, nearly 50 miles of roadways in Andover, North Andover and Lawrence were dug up and temporarily patched to accommodate gas main replacement through December 2018.
The leaders will detail a settlement with Columbia Gas that will fund complete road restoration in the three communities and reimburse the communities for all of these expenses. Company representatives will be in attendance to answer questions from members of the press.
This settlement is being delivered directly to the three municipalities and goes above and beyond direct repairs and reimbursements to the approximately 8,600 natural gas customers who were affected by the gas emergency.
Members of the media interesting in attending the press conference are kindly asked to RSVP by contacting John Guilfoil (617-993-0003 or john@jgpr.net). Cabling to live trucks will be permitted. A mult-box/press box will be provided by WCVB-TV for broadcast/audio recording.
