Waterford to vote on oil sands resolution

WATERFORD —  A resolution opposing transportation of tar sands oil through the Portland-Montreal oil pipeline will go in front of Waterford voters during the annual town meeting March 2.

If passed, the resolution would make Waterford the latest in a growing number of local communities formally opposing an alleged plan to transport diluted bitumen-derived "tar sands" oil from Alberta to Portland through the pipeline.

Last summer, environmental groups, including the Natural Resources Council of Maine, warned that Canadian pipeline company Enbridge and the Portland-Montreal Pipeline were resuscitating a 2008 proposal to reverse the pipline's flow.

Through the resolution, Waterford would formally oppose any change in product or flow direction in the pipeline and any transportation of tar sands oil through the pipeline's existing public utility easement.

"We feel that such transport is of no benefit to Waterford and entails unacceptable risk to our rivers, our public health and safety, property values, recreation resources, water quality and the pristine natural resources upon which out community depends," the resolution reads.

By adopting the resolution, Waterford would call on the Maine Legislature, U.S. Congress and federal diplomatic and environmental authorities to insist on a thorough environmental review of any tar sands oil pipeline proposal.

Paula Eastman, one of the resolution's organizers, said she expected a larger-than-average turn-out at the town meeting because of the resolution, in an interview last Thursday.

Eastman is one of a number of Waterford residents that have held informational meetings and distributed fliers to residents about the alleged pipeline reversal since December.

The group's goal is to educate voters of the negative effects it claims pumping tar sands oil through the pipeline could have, Eastman said. The organizers have no issues with the current use of the pipeline, she said.

Waterford organizers claim tar sands oil is more viscous, corrosive and toxic than conventional crude oil. Considering the age of the pipeline, Eastman says the risk of a spill is magnified.

In Waterford, the pipeline runs parallel to the Crooked River, which provides about 40 percent of the flow into Sebago Lake, the water source for around 200,000 in greater Portland.

Because diluted bitumen sinks, a spill along the waterway could be catastrophic, resolution organizers contend.

Officials from PMPL and Enbridge have repeatedly denied any plan is currently being considered, although PMPL CEO Larry Wilson  recently confirmed the company is open to the idea, according to reports.

Officials from PMPL, the Canadian Consulate and the New England Petroleum Council attended Bethel's special town meeting in January when a similar resolution was passed, but were not allowed to address the meeting, according to The Bethel Citizen. 

Eastman said she was sure pipeline company and petroleum industry representatives would attend the Waterford meeting.

In an email Monday, PMPL spokesman Ted O'Meara confirmed that company officials planned to attend the meeting.

The Waterford town meeting will be held Saturday, March 2, at 9 a.m., at the Waterford town office.