South Portland propane moratorium unable to obtain needed super majority
South Portland’s city council voted Wednesday in favor of a six-month moratorium on the development of propane distribution and storage facilities.
Despite the 4-3 vote in favor, the city council came to the decision that the moratorium won't be passed as it required a super-majority of 5 votes to pass, according to the Portland Press Herald.
The proposed moratorium came to light among safety concerns by both local residents and a number of city councilor due to a recent development proposal by NGL Energy Partners of Tulsa, Okla., which includes Brunswick-based Downeast Energy.
“I don’t think anyone can minimize anyone’s fear,” City Councilor Linda Cohen said at Wednesday’s council meeting. “I don’t think this council should jump in the middle of the process.”
The nearest commercial building to the proposed facilities is 390 feet while the nearest residential area is 700 feet. A fire safety analysis prepared for NGL states that although the radius of a vapor cloud explosion would be 2,112 feet, safety features in the design would greatly lower that possibility.
NGL is looking for a new home for its facilities due to the state’s planned expansion of the International Marine Terminal in Portland where the facilities currently reside.
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