Several enviornmental groups say Maine could be affected by a proposal to move tar-sands-derived oil east from Ontario.
Environmentalists are warning Mainers to pay attention to Canada’s desire to export more oil derived from tar sands. While President Barack Obama has blocked, for now, a proposed pipeline across the central U-S, a company called Enbridge is seeking to move some of its tar-sands-derived oil east from Ontario, a move the environmentalists say could bring the oil to Maine for export.
“This means it’s time to get the facts about tar sands oil and tar sands pipelines, and for Maine to begin the discussion about what this might mean for our state, our environment, our waters and our climate,” said Dylan Voorhees of the Natural Resources Council of Maine at a news conference yesterday. “That’s the discussion the people of Nebraska have been having regarding the Keystone Pipeline.”
Glen Brand, director of Sierra Club Maine, says that the crude derived from tar sands is more acidic and corrosive than the oil that now flows through the Portland pipeline. He says that increases the risk of spills.
This story was reported by Irwin Gratz.
