Concern over toxic tar sands

To the Editor:

I am concerned that Exxon and its Canadian affiliates "from away" have taken over our Portland Montreal Pipeline Company (PMPL) and have been considering reversing the flow to bring corrosive, toxic tar sands oil or bitumen from Alberta, Canada, through the Crooked River Valley to Portland.

As a landowner with PMPL running through a mile of my land, including prime salmon/brook trout rapids, Class AA drinking waters and outdoor recreation of the Crooked River, I am concerned lest any spill of tar sands bitumen would pose unacceptable risks.

To forever protect this critical watershed we donated a Conservation Easement to the Western Foothills Land Trust. Mary Ann and I have derived satisfaction in making our prized regional fishing spot, hunting, picnicking and outdoor sports freely open to the public.

Over the years we have enjoyed our relationship with PMPL and support existing uses, but we are now concerned that with the Exxon pipeline takeover, the Board now comprises international corporations seeking to export tar sands oil.

Four Board members are from Alberta, two from Ontario, one from Quebec, one from Texas and only one from Maine. Though PMPL officials maintain no such planning is underway at present, they are leaving open all options.

Unlike conventional crude, a critical fraction of bitumen sinks and sticks to the bottom. This would do irreparable damage to the miles of wetlands/floodplains along the Crooked River, its tributaries and aquifer through which the pipelines run.

It would clog salmon and trout gravel beds. Cleanup efforts following a spill into the Kalamazoo River in Michigan, have taken two years, thus far costing $750 million.

To put Exxon on notice upfront, I urge citizens to vote to support a Resolution expressing our concern at the Waterford Town Meeting, Saturday, March 2.

In addition, I urge fellow citizens and our federal, state and local representatives to petition Secretary of State John Kerry and US EPA to conduct a thorough environmental review and a full Environmental Impact Statement.

The corrosive, toxic qualities and cleanup challenges call for designation as a major federal action, in contrast to conventional crude.

Bart Hague

Waterford