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10 June 2015

The 127th Legislature of the State of Maine
State House
Augusta, ME

Dear Honorable Members of the 127th Legislature:

Under the authority vested in me by Article IV, Part Third, Section 2 of the Constitution of
the State of Maine, I am hereby vetoing LD 484, ?An Act Regarding the Con?dentiality of
Railroad Carrier Cargo.?

This bill adds an additional public records exception to the Freedom of Access Act to cover
records describing hazardous materials transported by a railroad in this State when those records
are in the possession of law enforcement, ?re departments or other ?rst responders or emergency
management entities. In essence, railroad companies want these records shielded from public View
when they are in the possession of ?rst responders and emergency management entities.

One of the hallmarks of my administration has been transparency in government; another
has been the protection of Maine citizens. I cannot support a bill that is inconsistent with these
goals. When information about hazardous cargo traveling through this State is in the possession. of
?rst responders and/or emergency management entities, it is highly possible that one reason these
entities have this information in the ?rst place is that something has gone wrong. I am not at all
comfortable shielding this information from the Maine citizens that may be placed in harm?s way
by these transports. If trains are carrying hazardous materials through our State and this
information is shared with our ?rst responders and emergency management entities, then this
information needs to be available to our citizens.

For these reasons, I return LD 484 unsigned and vetoed. I strongly urge the Legislature to
sustain it.

Sincerely,

Ma. l?at

Paul R. LePage
Governor

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