Historic Win in Maine’s Battle Over Tar Sands
July 22, 2014
An historic vote in Maine reaffirms that residents want to keep toxic tar sands at bay.
Yesterday, South Portland City Council voted 6-1 to pass the Clear Skies Ordinance, which prohibits bulk loading of tar sands onto tankers at the waterfront and the construction of any infrastructure that would be used for that purpose.
(snip)
The bulk loading of crude has never been done in South Portland, and the city plans to keep it that way. This is the first time in which a U.S. city considering loading tar sands oil onto tankers has banned the activity.
“Tonight’s victory shows that no one is above the democratic process, and when out-of-state oil interests try to throw their weight around to pollute a Maine town, we know how to say ‘no,’” said Lisa Pohlmann, executive director of the Natural Resources Council of Maine. “As South Portland goes, so goes the nation. Communities everywhere are waking up to the fact that tar sands are a dirty, toxic energy source.”
Natural Resources Council of Maine staff members (from left) Judy Berk, Lisa Pohlmann, Emmie Theberge and Dylan Voorhees give the “thumbs up” to South Portland City Council’s vote in support of the Clear Skies Ordinance. Photo credit: Natural Resources Council of Maine
http://ecowatch.com/2014/07/22/historic-win-maine-battle-tar-sands/
Maine’s tar sands oil ban a win for activists
Portland vote lifts hopes of environmentals wary of pipeline
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/maine/2014/07/22/maine-council-vote-block-shipment-tar-sands-oil-bolsters-hopes-pipeline-foes/ivhZmkiFcSc9IQ167I2QaN/story.html
(snip)
Among those who changed his mind was Mayor Gerard Jalbert, who said he was mainly concerned because the pipeline runs through the Sebago Lake watershed, which provides about a quarter of the state’s population with drinking water.
He also worried about potential spills in the scenic harbor, which is home to a historic fort, century-old lighthouses, and pleasure boats plying its cobalt waters.
“When you start looking at the bigger picture, it’s just a higher level of risk than we’re prepared to accept,” he said.