SENATORS SNOWE, COLLINS HELP SECURE SURPLUS COAST GUARD BOAT FOR TOWN OF RAYMOND

               U.S. Senators Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins are pleased to announce that they have helped secure a surplus U.S. Coast Guard watercraft for the Town of Raymond.  The Coast Guard no longer required the 25-foot Ambar, which will be used by the Raymond Fire and Rescue Department on Sebago Lake.               “We are delighted that the Coast Guard has granted our request for a surplus watercraft for the Town of Raymond,” said Senators Snowe and Collins in a joint statement.  “The town’s need for this boat is compelling, as the vessel would provide security on Sebago Lake, which is the drinking water source for approximately 194,000 people in the Greater Portland area.  The ability of the region’s first responders to effectively address emergency situations on the lake is critical to the safety of these communities.  That is why we were pleased to lend our support to this request.”               The Ambar had been declared surplus by the Coast Guard and transferred to the Government Services Administration, which is the Federal agency responsible for disposing of surplus government property.  When no Federal agency claimed the boat within the designated time frame, the boat was transferred to the state surplus office, and the Senators were able to direct the vessel to Raymond.  “There is no more appropriate use for this former Coast Guard boat than to support this multi-agency, multi-municipality safety and security mission,” added Senators Snowe and Collins.               The Town of Raymond has agreed to work in conjunction with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to help provide coverage for six other towns that border Sebago Lake, including Naples, Standish, Windham, Frye Island, Sebago, and Casco.     ###