It argues that Portland Pipe Line can’t claim damages when it says it has no plans to move tar sands crude from Canada to the city’s waterfront. By Kelley Bouchard, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story SOUTH PORTLAND — The city has asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit by the Portland Pipe 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 has been 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 put our lakes, rivers, and coastal waters at risk, and threaten communities and drinking water from Sebago Lake along its path. The Natural Resources Council of Maine was the first organization to bring the threat of tar sands to the public’s attention in Maine in 2009, and has been leading on this issue statewide ever since.
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 require 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 could endanger 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.
Senate Fails to Override Obama Veto of Keystone XL Pipeline
It’s the latest chapter in the struggle between Republicans and the president over energy policy. By Dina Cappiello, Associated Press Associated Press news story WASHINGTON – The Senate on Wednesday failed to override President Barack Obama’s veto of a bill to construct the Keystone XL pipeline, the first of many confrontations between the Republican-controlled Congress Read More
South Portland Hires Boston Law Firm to Defend Clear Skies Ordinance
by Alex Acquisto, The Forecaster staff The Forecaster news story SOUTH PORTLAND — The Boston law firm Foley Hoag will defend the city against a lawsuit filed last month by Portland Pipe Line Corp. The City Council, as expected, unanimously approved the hiring Monday night. In the nine-count lawsuit, Portland Pipe Line and American Waterways Read More
South Portland Looks to Boston Law Firm to Defend Crude-oil Ban
The City Council will decide whether to hire Foley Hoag to represent it in a lawsuit challenging the Clear Skies ordinance it passed in July. By Kelley Bouchard, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story SOUTH PORTLAND — The city plans to hire a Boston law firm to defend its Clear Skies ordinance against oil Read More
South Portland Has Allies Against Portland Pipe Line Lawsuit
Alex Acquisto, The Forecaster Staff The Forecaster news story SOUTH PORTLAND — Proponents of the city’s Clear Skies Ordinance this week said they will help the city fight an oil and shipping industry lawsuit that seeks to overturn the law. “Certainly we were prepared for this and knew that it certainly could happen,” Mary-Jane Ferrier of Read More
Oil Ban Sparks Lawsuit
By Kate Irish Collins KeepMEcurrent.com news story Familiar players are lining up as South Portland faces legal action regarding its tar-sands ordinance. The citizen-based and environmental groups that played an integral part in getting the South Portland ban on tar-sands oil passed last July are lining up to support the city now that it’s been Read More
Tar Sands Suit Filed; Environment Groups to Intervene
By Jennifer Mitchell MPBN news story Two entities with an interest in the shipment of tar sands crude have filed a lawsuit against the city of South Portland over its Clear Skies ordinance passed in June. The South Portland-Portland Pipe Line Corporation and the American Waterways Operators group allege in their complaint that the ordinance, Read More
Oil, Shipping Industries Sue South Portland Over Tar Sands Ban They Argue Violates Their Constitutional Rights
By Nick McCrea, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — A pipeline company and a water freight organization have filed suit against the city of South Portland, arguing an ordinance effectively banning the shipment of tar sands, or oil sands, from its waterfront violates their constitutional rights. The ordinance passed last Read More
Protect South Portland, Others Will Intervene in PPLC Suit Against City of South Portland
Protect South Portland news release South Portland—Portland Pipe Line Corp. filed suit against the City of South Portland today over the City’s landmark Clear Skies Ordinance, which was passed 6-1 by the City Council at the end of July. “We’re disappointed, to say the least,” said MJ Ferrier, spokeswoman for Protect South Portland, the several Read More
