PRESS RELEASE

September 22, 2004

Gallagher, Callahan & Gartrell to Assist in Seacoast Region Wastewater Management Study

CONCORD, NH – Gallagher, Callahan & Gartrell, PA, will serve as part of the team selected to study viable options to address the New Hampshire seacoast region’s wastewater management needs. The team is led by Metcalf & Eddy and was chosen in August by the Great Bay Estuary Commission and the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services in a competitive selection process. Gallagher, Callahan & Gartrell will provide a community outreach program and economic and legal analyses for the project. Other members of the team include: Wright-Pierce, ENSR International, Appledore Engineering, Inc., and TFMoran.

The team will conduct an 18-month study to assist the Great Bay Estuary Commission in weighing feasible alternatives to meet the region's wastewater management needs and will report their findings to the communities and stakeholders for consideration. The study will assess a range of issues for each option, including water quality, engineering, economics, environmental impacts, legal and regulatory requirements, and public consideration and acceptance. A preferred option will be identified as a result of the study.

The community outreach program is an integral part of the study. “The intent of the program is to solicit input from interested persons and organizations, encourage participation and keep the public informed,” said Erik Taylor, Director of Public Affairs for Gallagher, Callahan and Gartrell and the Community Relations Manager for the project. “The purpose of the study is to provide the Great Bay Estuary Commission with information it needs to map out a waste management strategy for the region; local and regional input into the study is critical to the project’s success,” added Taylor.

The study will include an initial series of public information sessions, a workshop to solicit input on different management options, bi-monthly progress meetings, and development of a project newsletter and website to keep citizens and other interested organizations abreast of the study’s status. The information-gathering phase of the study will be followed by data analysis and assessment by the project team. Interim and final results will be available to the public and will be presented at meetings with an opportunity for public input and comments. For more information about the study, please visit the project web site at www.coastalclear.org.

Gallagher, Callahan & Gartrell, PA is a multidisciplinary law firm with offices in Concord, New Hampshire and Augusta, Maine.

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