ISLESBORO, Maine — The fate of a controversial, $40 million liquid propane terminal project now rests with the Searsport Planning Board, but elected officials from another midcoast community want a say, too.
“Any decision that affects the use of Penobscot Bay affects us all,” the Islesboro Board of Selectmen wrote the Searsport Planning Board in a letter dated Thursday. “The proposed DCP Midstream [liquid propane gas] tank and terminal will have an impact on the economy, environment, safety and security of the entire Midcoast Region.”
The letter was signed by select board members Craig Olson, Susan Schnur, Archibald Gillies, Sandra Oliver and Jay Zlotkowski.
The Searsport Planning Board recently began the review process for the project that would be located at the Mack Point industrial zone.
Longtime Planning Board Chairman Bruce Probert said in mid-May that if the 700-page application meets certain criteria, the proposed 137-foot-tall, 23-million-gallon fuel tank is a permitted use for the industrial zone.
He said it’s good that Islesboro officials have put their concerns in writing.
“We will consider their letter. There will be a public hearing process, and an opportunity for people from out of town to speak,” Probert said Thursday morning.
He said that in the review process, the planning board will consider the 18 performance standards outlined in Searsport’s zoning ordinance. Board members also will need to consider their area of jurisdiction.
“We don’t have jurisdiction on the waterways,” he said.
Denver-based DCP Midstream already has secured state and federal permits for the project to go forward, including approvals from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Safety risks potentially posed by the industrial facility were high among the regional concerns outlined by the Islesboro Board of Selectmen.
“Waldo County is not equipped to deal with the impacts of an industrial facility of this nature,” read the letter’s attached list of concerns. “There are no career fire departments in Waldo County; all firefighters work on a volunteer or paid-call basis. There is only one hospital, which is located in the City of Belfast, and is not a Level 1 certified trauma facility.”
Other points raised include:
• Potential problems from tanker traffic from the propane terminal, such as a tanker fire, could affect every community along Penobscot Bay.
• The select board’s desire to have DCP Midstream be required to provide a scale model of the proposed facility in order to assess its effect on the surrounding towns.
• The desire to have DCP Midstream, a limited liability corporation, demonstrate that it could “fully and timely compensate Searsport and the surrounding communities for any emergency response costs, and damages to people and property, resulting from an incident at their proposed facility.”
“The Searsport Planning board decision could place a significant and profound burden on the quality of life and resources of every community in Waldo County, and the entire Penobscot Bay region,” the letter said. “Searsport owes a duty to all of those communities to consider the full breadth of the impacts that this proposed facility will have on its neighbors.”
In past interviews, DCP Midstream spokesperson Roz Elliott has said that safety is the company’s top value.
“This potential propane import terminal in Searsport, it’s not just an operation to us. It’s the home of our future employees,” she said.
The Searsport Planning Board will next meet at 7 p.m. Monday, June 4, at Union Hall, to go over the completeness of the application. The public will not have the chance to participate at this meeting, Probert said.
There will be an open-to-the-public session at the planning board’s regular Monday, June 11, meeting, held at 7 p.m. at Union Hall.
What do you know, the summer people have arrived on Isleboro, and heard news that their million dollar vacation homes may have to look at a working waterfront.
I see you’ve put on Mr. Limbaugh’s tinfoil hat and swallowed the Kool-Aid served up earlier this year on Radio Vomit by Roz Elliott, chief spokesliar for DCP Midstream, the Denver front for gas giants Phillips66 and Duke Energy. Ms. Elliott also claimed that the only opposition to this dangerous megatank came from a few rich summer people. Perhaps you and Jeremy should get to know the facts before spouting off with your uninformed prejudices.
Peter, unfortunately for you, your uniformed prejudices have already put you in a position that your comments are not listened to, even when you have a valid point. Something about a boy crying wolf.
“Uniformed” prejudices. Preferring naked prejudices, I make it a point to never dress them up in uniforms. Why don’t you make another attempt to make some sense. That way your comments will also be listened to.
One thousand apologies oh great orator of the English language. I meant to say “uninformed” but evidently you needed my assistance to figure that out. Don’t take constructive criticism well do ya.
Grew up in the area Peter… Know aaaaaaall about the facts. Know all about Belfast, Stockton, Searsport, Islesboro, what fuels are there, what comes in by ship, what goes by on Rt. 1…. The conversation would be much more productive if you didn’t think that you are the only one in the know because you were a local journalist… I commend you for your devotion to the cause, but I just respectfully disagree. I agree with you on some points like it is not going to create opportunity for residents, but Searsport is already an eye sore from the bay, one more tank isn’t going to make any difference for residents of Islesboro. When I drove through Searsport the other day I remember laughing when I thought about how big a tank would have to be to be seen from Route 1. Sorry, they don’t make tanks that big.
Of the 10 or so people facing Searsport from Islesboro, all they see now are huge fuel tanks. One more tank isn’t going to matter. If someone wants a scenic view looking north in Penobscot Bay they look into Belfast Harbor or up the Penobscot River towards Bucksport. NOT SEARSPORT. If Islesboro is worried about public safety, keep a flare gun on hand in case you hear a fizzle coming from the Searsport direction…
Bet the guy in that photo hanging up the sign feels like a fool now. The town realized that in order to prosper, jobs are needed. An additional fuel storage facility is just the answer. We are always going to need and use fuel, so there really is no better business to start up at this point. What difference is one really big tank going to make in an area (Mack Point) that is filled with multiple large tanks? People need to get off their high horse and use common sense. Do they really think that this company is going to operate a sub-par facility where an accident is likely to occur? All these opponents talk about is a big disaster, how often does this really happen in today’s world of over zealous safety rules & regulations. A large scale accident at a facility like this would be disastrous for a business and they will do whatever is necessary to prevent this from happening. These opponents act like Homer Simpson is going to be in charge of the facility and accidentally leave a valve open while smoking. Get a clue people.
There is, on average, one propane accident a day in the U.S. From back yard tanks exploding to entire facilities going up.
Accidents happen all the time. Ask BP or Exxon.
We have chemical plant employees IN SEARSPORT caught on the job high on bath salts.There is a mile long pipeline on an active pier operated by Sprauge, not DCP.This is the biggest LPG storage tank on the East Coast, 15 stories tall, full of 45,000 tons ofLPG. It is in a residential neighborhood less than a mile from the center of town.Most accidents at terminals and chemical facilities are in fact from opening or closing the wrong valve.
Then: All we want is a thorough and comprehensive environmental impact study.
Now: There is no full time fire department in Waldo County
There is no Level 1 trauma center in Belfast.
There are safety risks with the proposed facility.
History: Searsport continues to be an industrial port with cargoes and goods coming, going and stored there.
Reality: Can propane be dangerous? Sure! In the right conditions. But so can the Ethanol stored at Mack point. The clay slurry (that was released via rail car in Bucksport) that comes and goes, the Jet A fuel that is trucked through Searsport, the chemicals at GAC chemical plant, and the list goes on.
People don’t realize what goods are moved via truck, rail and ship through Searsport’s port, or just passing through via truck.
So I say, Thank You Islesboro Selectboard for raising the point. But why limit yourself to one perceived hazard that could affect you and consider ALL of the potential hazards. You are concerned for your citizens. I commend you for that. But don’t limit your concern to this one project.
My challenge to you: Make Waldo County’s public safety crews the absolute best you can make them (its money well spent even if this project doesn’t fly). Donate generously to the hospital in Belfast to increase the level of services offered. And, keep your ear to the ground. Your concerns are coming way (way) late in the game. You needed to be on the ball 18 months ago.
We still need a full, independent, economic and environmental impact study
Yeah, more studies will solve the problem…why is everyone’s answer to this type of situation…lets have a study done. Studies are guesswork at best. How many thousands of times have you seen studies proven wrong. Someone can sit in their office and research the subject until they are blue in the face but you will still have no concrete answers. The only way to know is to do. Why is everyone so adamant about wasting money on these so called “studies”. From the east west highway to casinos to the new auditorium, people are so caught up on spending hundreds of thousands of dollars and wasting precious time when a person of above average intelligence could give you the same answers within a few days. When push comes to shove a study is still a guess and more often than not they contain the publishers bias.
Practical, relevant and reality based Sir. This is the best pieced together arguement that I have seen yet. You make excellent point’s on all subject’s and back them up with both reasonable and reality based options and possibility’s. You go, and don’t quit !