South Portland to start legal fund to defend tar sands ban
South Portland city councilors have agreed to start a legal fund to defend their recently approved ordinance that bans the flow of so-called tar sands oil.
The Forecaster reported that Portland Pipeline Corp. has made nearly daily right-to-know requests to the city, seeking any documents related to the Clear Skies Ordinance and the Waterfront Protection Ordinance, a broader ordinance that was proposed last year and subsequently failed in a citywide referendum.
Jim Merrill, an attorney and spokesman for Portland Pipeline, said in a prepared statement to the newspaper that the information is being sought to help the company “evaluate several options concerning this job-killing ordinance.”
In anticipation of a legal battle, city councilors agreed to start a legal fund if they can rely on donations from individuals and groups in order to mitigate costs for taxpayers. The city plans to meet with Portland Pipeline soon in order to keep open communications.
The City Council voted 6-1 in July to ban the loading of crude oil onto marine vessels and development of any facilities related to that purpose.
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