About 80 people turn out for the Planning Board’s hearing and vote on ordinance changes that would prevent tars sands oil from coming into the city. By Kelley Bouchard, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story SOUTH PORTLAND — A controversial proposal that would ban tar sands oil from coming into the city won the Read More
Tar Sands Oil
Tar sands oil is the dirtiest and most climate-destructive form of oil in the world. When it spills, it is almost impossible to clean up. There was a proposal to bring tar sands oil through an existing nearly 70-year-old pipeline in Maine. It crosses some of Maine’s most pristine watersheds and ends at Casco Bay. This plan would have put our lakes, rivers, and coastal waters at risk, and threatened communities and drinking water from Sebago Lake along its path. NRCM was the first organization to bring the threat of tar sands to the public’s attention in Maine in 2009, and was a leader on this issue statewide.
Tar sands oil is one of the dirtiest forms of energy on the planet and is a growing threat in Maine and the Northeast. Extracted from huge open-pit mines in Alberta, Canada, tar sands oil is 20% more carbon intensive than conventional crude oil.
Sending tar sands crude oil to Maine would have required reversing an existing pipeline owned by Portland Montreal Pipe Line, a pipeline that passes next to Sebago Lake, the drinking water supply for more than 15% of Maine people. It would have endangered Casco Bay and our fishing and lobster industries. Many Maine cities and towns passed resolutions in opposition to transporting tar sands oil through their communities, and South Portland passed the Clear Skies Ordinance to protect their community.
South Portland Council Backs Tar Sands Ban
A proposed ordinance to keep the oil from entering the city passes its first hurdle in a 6-1 vote after 500 people pack a meeting to listen to the debate. By Kelley Bouchard, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story SOUTH PORTLAND — The City Council overwhelmingly approved a first reading Wednesday night of a Read More
Proposed Tar Sands Ban Gets Standing Ovation in South Portland
But others say the plan would hurt the city’s marine terminals. The council is scheduled to vote July 7. By Kelley Bouchard Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story SOUTH PORTLAND — The auditorium at Mahoney Middle School rocked Wednesday night with a standing ovation and cheers for a proposal that would block tar sands Read More
Testimony to the South Portland City Council Regarding the South Portland Clear Skies Ordinance
I am here today representing the members and supporters of the Natural Resources Council of Maine, especially those who reside in South Portland. NRCM was founded by Maine people exactly 55 years ago today, and is the state’s leading environmental advocacy group, representing more than 16,000 members and supporters. I would like to commend the Read More
Report: Mining Tar Sands Threatens Migratory Birds
Written by Lisa Neff Wisconsin Gazette news story Destructive mining and drilling practices in the heart of Canada’s boreal forest are putting millions of America’s migratory birds at risk and have already resulted in potentially hundreds of thousands of fatalities, according to a report from the National Wildlife Federation and the Natural Resources Council of Maine. Read More
New Report Highlights Tar Sands Threat to Migratory Birds
Interior Department Must Declare Canada is Undermining International Wildlife Protections News Release Destructive mining and drilling practices in the heart of Canada’s boreal forest—a huge and important bird nursery—are putting millions of America’s migratory birds at risk and have already resulted in potentially hundreds of thousands of fatalities, according to an issue brief released today Read More
Citizen Leaders Stand Up to Protect Maine’s Precious Natural Heritage
For the Kennebec River, Bald Mountain and South Portland, three people are making a real difference. By Lisa Pohlmann Portland Press Herald op-ed AUGUSTA — This winter, I took my 8-year-old grandson out for an afternoon adventure in the snow-covered woods. We followed deer tracks, talked about the wood duck boxes in the marsh and Read More
The Dirty Truth About Tar Sands
By Dr. Daniel Parenteau Sun Chronicle/KeepMECurrent op-ed It is widely believed that Big Oil is pursuing a possible plan to transport tar sands oil through some of the most important natural and cultural landscapes in Central Canada, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Under the plan, Enbridge’s Line 9 and ExxonMobil’s Portland-Montreal pipeline would be reversed Read More
Arkansas Woman in Maine to Share Story of Tar Sands Spill
MPBN news story Genieve Long, a resident of Mayflower, Arkansas, told reporters and others today that a spill of tar sands oil near her home last year made her and her four children physically ill. In South Portland today, a cautionary tale about crude oil extracted for tar sands. It came from Genieve Long, a Read More
