Committee passes resolution opposing tar sands transmission
Written by Craig Lyons
It's now time for the City Council to weigh in on whether or not to take a formal stance about the transmission of tar sands oil through Portland.
The council's Transportation Sustainability and Energy Committee unanimously recommended the passage of a resolution that opposes the transmission of tar sands oil through Portland and cites the danger it poses to the environment.
The resolution states that the city opposes the transmission of tar sands in order to protect Portland's natural resources; calls on the Maine Legislature and federal government to better analyze the impact of tar sans being transmitted through Maine; and supports the creation of federal guidelines for tracking the chemical composition of the fuel being transmitted through Maine.
Councilor John Anton said the resolution speaks directly to his biggest concern, and that's the risk that a spill could pose to the water supply for the city.
Anton said he doesn't know the technical ins and outs associated with pipelines and fuel transmission but he knows he has concerns because of the proximity to Sebago Lake.
"I simply do not believe that anything is failsafe," he said.
Councilor David Marshall said passing the resolution has to do with protecting Sebago Lake and Casco Bay. He said it's been shown what happens when diluted bitumen, the substance commonly called "tar sands" crude, hits water and the environmental devastation that will follow.
In March, the committee heard extensive public comment both for and against the resolution, and speakers contested and supported the facts laid out in the document. That debate continued Wednesday night.
John Quinn, executive director of the New England Petroleum Council, said the resolution cites bad information and noted that contrary to the supporting materials, a 2010 spill in Michigan was caused by external factors not directly tied to tar sands; that a recent spill in Arkansas leaked heavy crude; and that there is no specific pipeline design to just account for tar sands.
Quinn said he doesn't understand the council's desire to move forward with the resolution since the Portland Pipeline Company doesn't have a plan to reverse the flow and a report on "oil sands" — an industry term for "tar sands" — is expected to be released by the National Academy of Sciences in June.
Just based on past spills, Emily Figdor, of Environment Maine, said it's been shown that tar sands can have devastating impacts on communities. She said taking a stance against tar sands is critical to protecting the natural resources that are important to Portland residents and the whole state.
Resident Sally Trice said it's important for the city to state now that tar sands transmission is not appropriate.
"It would be devastating in case of any problem," she said.
Trice said people should be mindful that the resolution isn't about companies' bottom lines but the future of the environment.
The resolution will soon go before the full council for review and public comment.
•••
Earlier in the meeting, the committee endorsed an ordinance that will mandate recycling for multi-family properties that don't subscribe to Portland's curbside pickup program.
The regulations would require that the recycling program be as accessible as the solid waste collection system; it must include the same materials as the city's recycling program; landlords must provide signage that indicates containers are for recyclables; tenants must be given information about the program; and recycling won't be mixed with solid waste.
The proposed ordinance was based on the recommendations of the city's Multi-Family Recycling Task Force.
The recycling requirement for multi-family buildings would start Jan. 1, 2014, according to the draft language, but property owners could seek an extension that explains why more time is needed to implement a recycling program.
There are about 23,000 housing units that the city services with curbside pickup, according to the city, and about 9,500 that don't use the program.
The council's Transportation Sustainability and Energy Committee unanimously recommended the passage of a resolution that opposes the transmission of tar sands oil through Portland and cites the danger it poses to the environment.
The resolution states that the city opposes the transmission of tar sands in order to protect Portland's natural resources; calls on the Maine Legislature and federal government to better analyze the impact of tar sans being transmitted through Maine; and supports the creation of federal guidelines for tracking the chemical composition of the fuel being transmitted through Maine.
Councilor John Anton said the resolution speaks directly to his biggest concern, and that's the risk that a spill could pose to the water supply for the city.
Anton said he doesn't know the technical ins and outs associated with pipelines and fuel transmission but he knows he has concerns because of the proximity to Sebago Lake.
"I simply do not believe that anything is failsafe," he said.
Councilor David Marshall said passing the resolution has to do with protecting Sebago Lake and Casco Bay. He said it's been shown what happens when diluted bitumen, the substance commonly called "tar sands" crude, hits water and the environmental devastation that will follow.
In March, the committee heard extensive public comment both for and against the resolution, and speakers contested and supported the facts laid out in the document. That debate continued Wednesday night.
John Quinn, executive director of the New England Petroleum Council, said the resolution cites bad information and noted that contrary to the supporting materials, a 2010 spill in Michigan was caused by external factors not directly tied to tar sands; that a recent spill in Arkansas leaked heavy crude; and that there is no specific pipeline design to just account for tar sands.
Quinn said he doesn't understand the council's desire to move forward with the resolution since the Portland Pipeline Company doesn't have a plan to reverse the flow and a report on "oil sands" — an industry term for "tar sands" — is expected to be released by the National Academy of Sciences in June.
Just based on past spills, Emily Figdor, of Environment Maine, said it's been shown that tar sands can have devastating impacts on communities. She said taking a stance against tar sands is critical to protecting the natural resources that are important to Portland residents and the whole state.
Resident Sally Trice said it's important for the city to state now that tar sands transmission is not appropriate.
"It would be devastating in case of any problem," she said.
Trice said people should be mindful that the resolution isn't about companies' bottom lines but the future of the environment.
The resolution will soon go before the full council for review and public comment.
•••
Earlier in the meeting, the committee endorsed an ordinance that will mandate recycling for multi-family properties that don't subscribe to Portland's curbside pickup program.
The regulations would require that the recycling program be as accessible as the solid waste collection system; it must include the same materials as the city's recycling program; landlords must provide signage that indicates containers are for recyclables; tenants must be given information about the program; and recycling won't be mixed with solid waste.
The proposed ordinance was based on the recommendations of the city's Multi-Family Recycling Task Force.
The recycling requirement for multi-family buildings would start Jan. 1, 2014, according to the draft language, but property owners could seek an extension that explains why more time is needed to implement a recycling program.
There are about 23,000 housing units that the city services with curbside pickup, according to the city, and about 9,500 that don't use the program.
Last Updated on Thursday, 02 May 2013 02:25
Hits: 38
How schools in the area were graded
Written by David Carkhuff
An “A” to “F” school grading system announced by Gov. Paul LePage and Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen Wednesday ranks schools across Maine. The grades for elementary and middle schools are based entirely on reading and math standardized test scores; high school grades are based on standardized test scores and graduation rates.
Biddeford High School C
Biddeford Intermediate School C
Biddeford Middle School D
Brunswick High School B
Brunswick Jr High School B
Brunswick's Harriet Beecher Stowe Elementary C
Cape Elizabeth High School A
Cape Elizabeth Middle School A
Cape Elizabeth Pond Cove Elementary A
Falmouth Elementary School A
Falmouth High School A
Falmouth Middle School A
Gorham High School B
Gorham Middle School B
Gorham's Great Falls Elementary School C
Gorham's Narragansett Elementary School C
Gorham's Village Elementary School-Gorham B
Freeport High School B
Freeport Middle School B
Gray-New Gloucester High School C
Gray-New Gloucester Middle School C
Kennebunk High School A
Kennebunkport Consolidated School B
Middle School of the Kennebunks A
North Yarmouth Memorial School A
Old Orchard Beach High School B
Portland's Casco Bay High School B
Portland's Deering High School D
Portland's East End Community School F
Portland's Fred P. Hall School F
Portland's Harrison Lyseth Elem School C
Portland's Howard C Reiche Community School D
Portland's King Middle School C
Portland's Lincoln Middle School C
Portland's Longfellow School A
Portland's Lyman Moore Middle School C
Portland's Ocean Avenue C
Portland's Peaks Island School A
Portland High School D
Portland's Presumpscot School C
Portland's Riverton School C
Saco Middle School C
Scarborough's Benjamin Wentworth Intermediate B
Scarborough High School A
Scarborough Middle School A
South Portland's Daniel F. Mahoney Middle School C
South Portland's Dora L Small Elementary School B
South Portland's Dyer Elementary School A
South Portland's Frank I Brown Elementary School C
South Portland's James Otis Kaler Elementary School F
South Portland's Memorial Middle School C
South Portland High School B
South Portland's Waldo T Skillin Elementary School C
Wells-Ogunquit CSD, Wells Elementary School C
Wells High School B
Wells Junior High School B
Westbrook High School C
Windham High School C
Windham Middle School C
Yarmouth's Frank H Harrison Middle School A
Yarmouth Elementary School A
Yarmouth High School A
York School Department, Coastal Ridge Elementary A
York High School A
York Middle School B
(SOURCE: www.maine.gov/doe/schoolreportcards)
Biddeford High School C
Biddeford Intermediate School C
Biddeford Middle School D
Brunswick High School B
Brunswick Jr High School B
Brunswick's Harriet Beecher Stowe Elementary C
Cape Elizabeth High School A
Cape Elizabeth Middle School A
Cape Elizabeth Pond Cove Elementary A
Falmouth Elementary School A
Falmouth High School A
Falmouth Middle School A
Gorham High School B
Gorham Middle School B
Gorham's Great Falls Elementary School C
Gorham's Narragansett Elementary School C
Gorham's Village Elementary School-Gorham B
Freeport High School B
Freeport Middle School B
Gray-New Gloucester High School C
Gray-New Gloucester Middle School C
Kennebunk High School A
Kennebunkport Consolidated School B
Middle School of the Kennebunks A
North Yarmouth Memorial School A
Old Orchard Beach High School B
Portland's Casco Bay High School B
Portland's Deering High School D
Portland's East End Community School F
Portland's Fred P. Hall School F
Portland's Harrison Lyseth Elem School C
Portland's Howard C Reiche Community School D
Portland's King Middle School C
Portland's Lincoln Middle School C
Portland's Longfellow School A
Portland's Lyman Moore Middle School C
Portland's Ocean Avenue C
Portland's Peaks Island School A
Portland High School D
Portland's Presumpscot School C
Portland's Riverton School C
Saco Middle School C
Scarborough's Benjamin Wentworth Intermediate B
Scarborough High School A
Scarborough Middle School A
South Portland's Daniel F. Mahoney Middle School C
South Portland's Dora L Small Elementary School B
South Portland's Dyer Elementary School A
South Portland's Frank I Brown Elementary School C
South Portland's James Otis Kaler Elementary School F
South Portland's Memorial Middle School C
South Portland High School B
South Portland's Waldo T Skillin Elementary School C
Wells-Ogunquit CSD, Wells Elementary School C
Wells High School B
Wells Junior High School B
Westbrook High School C
Windham High School C
Windham Middle School C
Yarmouth's Frank H Harrison Middle School A
Yarmouth Elementary School A
Yarmouth High School A
York School Department, Coastal Ridge Elementary A
York High School A
York Middle School B
(SOURCE: www.maine.gov/doe/schoolreportcards)
Last Updated on Wednesday, 01 May 2013 23:21
Hits: 99
Firefighters simulate plane fire at Jetport
Written by Craig Lyons
Firefighters got a chance to practice fighting fires aboard an airplane and rescuing passengers Tuesday during a training drill at the Portland International Jetport.
The Portland Fire Department's Air Rescue and Firefighting Division held a live burn training at the Portland International Jetport where members practiced extinguishing flames to gain entry to a plane and rescuing passengers trapped on board. Fire chief Jerome LaMoria said being able to hold the training in Portland will result in a significant cost savings to the department plus keep up with the federally mandated training guidelines.
LaMoria said the department budgets $50,000 annually to send firefighters for training in other states, primarily New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Aside from the travel expenses, he said, another driver of the cost for the airport training is bringing on other firefighters to cover the shifts at the airport.
"We have cut that nearly in half," he said.
Additionally, LaMoria said it is better for the Air Rescue Division when they can train using their own equipment.
"Aviation safety is the most important thing we do," said Paul Bradbury, director of the Portland International Jetport.
It's safety exercises like the ones performed during the fire training that help make air travel the safest mode of transportation, said Bradbury.
Airplane fires are most common while stationed at the terminal, said LaMoria, and can be most hazardous during the refueling process. In the case of an airplane fire, Bradbury said it's important that any flames are extinguished quickly to increase the survivability of the travelers or airport workers.
During the exercise, LaMoria said the firefighters practiced driving the trucks up to the scene of an incident, creating an initial rescue path, removing passengers from the plane and providing the remaining fire suppression that's aided by ground crews.
Deputy Fire Chief Robert Stewart, who oversees the Air Rescue Division, said the first truck to respond to an incident uses two hoses — one on the roof and another on the bumper — to knock down the fire and clear the rescue path. He said the rescue path is used to remove any passengers from the plane and make way for the ground crew to get to the scene.
During the incidents, Stewart said the trucks use an aqueous film-forming foam that coats petroleum products and clears the way.
"It's a very realistic exercise," LaMoria said.
During the training, firefighters from Brunswick, Bar Harbor, South Portland and Scarborough joined the PFD for the exercises.
The simulator used during the training came from Kellogg Community College, in Battle Creek, Mich.
The Portland Fire Department's Air Rescue and Firefighting Division held a live burn training at the Portland International Jetport where members practiced extinguishing flames to gain entry to a plane and rescuing passengers trapped on board. Fire chief Jerome LaMoria said being able to hold the training in Portland will result in a significant cost savings to the department plus keep up with the federally mandated training guidelines.
LaMoria said the department budgets $50,000 annually to send firefighters for training in other states, primarily New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Aside from the travel expenses, he said, another driver of the cost for the airport training is bringing on other firefighters to cover the shifts at the airport.
"We have cut that nearly in half," he said.
Additionally, LaMoria said it is better for the Air Rescue Division when they can train using their own equipment.
"Aviation safety is the most important thing we do," said Paul Bradbury, director of the Portland International Jetport.
It's safety exercises like the ones performed during the fire training that help make air travel the safest mode of transportation, said Bradbury.
Airplane fires are most common while stationed at the terminal, said LaMoria, and can be most hazardous during the refueling process. In the case of an airplane fire, Bradbury said it's important that any flames are extinguished quickly to increase the survivability of the travelers or airport workers.
During the exercise, LaMoria said the firefighters practiced driving the trucks up to the scene of an incident, creating an initial rescue path, removing passengers from the plane and providing the remaining fire suppression that's aided by ground crews.
Deputy Fire Chief Robert Stewart, who oversees the Air Rescue Division, said the first truck to respond to an incident uses two hoses — one on the roof and another on the bumper — to knock down the fire and clear the rescue path. He said the rescue path is used to remove any passengers from the plane and make way for the ground crew to get to the scene.
During the incidents, Stewart said the trucks use an aqueous film-forming foam that coats petroleum products and clears the way.
"It's a very realistic exercise," LaMoria said.
During the training, firefighters from Brunswick, Bar Harbor, South Portland and Scarborough joined the PFD for the exercises.
The simulator used during the training came from Kellogg Community College, in Battle Creek, Mich.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 01 May 2013 00:07
Hits: 112
BB gun only weapon recovered following four-hour standoff
Written by David Carkhuff
An Airsoft-type BB gun was found in the apartment where Kyle Upton, 28, barricaded himself on Alder Street, police said, but otherwise "nothing of significance" was found in the way of weapons following the roughly four-hour standoff that shut down a section of Alder Street Monday.
The BB gun was found in a search of the apartment after Upton's arrest, according to Assistant Police Chief Vern Malloch. Upton surrendered shortly after 7 p.m. Monday, after about three hours of crisis negotiations by police.
Members of the Portland Police Department Special Reaction Team arrested Upton, who now faces charges including domestic violence crimes of criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, terrorizing, assault and causing a police standoff.
At about 3 p.m. Monday, Portland police officers responded to 41 Alder St. to follow up on a domestic violence assault report, and officers believed the suspect inside was armed with a firearm, Police Chief Michael Sauschuck reported during the standoff. When Upton refused to come out, a Special Weapons and Tactics, or SWAT team converged on Alder Street while police negotiated for Upton to come out of the apartment. Nearby buildings were evacuated and area streets closed while negotiations continued through the afternoon. Streets were reopened at approximately 7:30 p.m. upon Upton's surrender.
Upton was staying with acquaintances in the Alder Street apartment but was alone throughout the incident, police reported. Upton told police he was homeless and that he "was just staying there sleeping on a friend's couch," Malloch said.
Besides firearms, police learned that Upton might possess explosives, Malloch said.
"There was discussion about that possibility. We received a bunch of intelligence from different people about him. That was one thing about him that was rumored, but there was no evidence found," Malloch said.
"We feel like it was a successful result, that he eventually surrendered and no one was hurt. We view this as having a successful conclusion," Malloch said.
Police will review the response taken to arrest Upton.
"We do debriefs on all those types of incidents," Malloch said, but added the results are not made public.
The BB gun was found in a search of the apartment after Upton's arrest, according to Assistant Police Chief Vern Malloch. Upton surrendered shortly after 7 p.m. Monday, after about three hours of crisis negotiations by police.
Members of the Portland Police Department Special Reaction Team arrested Upton, who now faces charges including domestic violence crimes of criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, terrorizing, assault and causing a police standoff.
At about 3 p.m. Monday, Portland police officers responded to 41 Alder St. to follow up on a domestic violence assault report, and officers believed the suspect inside was armed with a firearm, Police Chief Michael Sauschuck reported during the standoff. When Upton refused to come out, a Special Weapons and Tactics, or SWAT team converged on Alder Street while police negotiated for Upton to come out of the apartment. Nearby buildings were evacuated and area streets closed while negotiations continued through the afternoon. Streets were reopened at approximately 7:30 p.m. upon Upton's surrender.
Upton was staying with acquaintances in the Alder Street apartment but was alone throughout the incident, police reported. Upton told police he was homeless and that he "was just staying there sleeping on a friend's couch," Malloch said.
Besides firearms, police learned that Upton might possess explosives, Malloch said.
"There was discussion about that possibility. We received a bunch of intelligence from different people about him. That was one thing about him that was rumored, but there was no evidence found," Malloch said.
"We feel like it was a successful result, that he eventually surrendered and no one was hurt. We view this as having a successful conclusion," Malloch said.
Police will review the response taken to arrest Upton.
"We do debriefs on all those types of incidents," Malloch said, but added the results are not made public.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 01 May 2013 00:08
Hits: 79
Crowd arrives for Take Back the Night event
Written by Craig Lyons
More than 150 people gathered in Monument Square on Friday for the annual Take Back the Night rally.
Nicole Manganelli of the Unity Project, Stephanie Bouffard of Boys to Men, activist Meghan Conley and Chelsea Rock Phelps of Sexual Response Services of Southern Maine led a march through downtown Portland during the event.
Brandon Baldwin, of the Maine Attorney Generals Office's Civil Rights Team project, delivered the keynote address at the Take Back the Night Rally.
"Ending sexual violence in Maine starts with giving people the space to talk about their experiences, and finding ways to come together as a community to talk about sexual violence prevention and education," states the event Facebook page.
Nicole Manganelli of the Unity Project, Stephanie Bouffard of Boys to Men, activist Meghan Conley and Chelsea Rock Phelps of Sexual Response Services of Southern Maine led a march through downtown Portland during the event.
Brandon Baldwin, of the Maine Attorney Generals Office's Civil Rights Team project, delivered the keynote address at the Take Back the Night Rally.
"Ending sexual violence in Maine starts with giving people the space to talk about their experiences, and finding ways to come together as a community to talk about sexual violence prevention and education," states the event Facebook page.
Last Updated on Tuesday, 30 April 2013 01:42
Hits: 72