PORTLAND (AP) – A loophole in Maine’s laws on political contributions is causing tension between Harpswell selectmen and groups campaigning for and against a proposed liquefied natural gas terminal.

State law requires all groups that spend more than $1,500 to influence the outcome of a municipal referendum must register as a Political Action Committee. But because Harpswell’s population is fewer than 15,000 people, that law does not apply.

Town selectmen have asked the five groups involved in the LNG campaign to detail their funding sources at a meeting Thursday. The selectmen had planned to open sealed envelopes listing each group’s contributors. Selectmen said they will name any organization that fails to comply.

The three groups backing the terminal said they would disclose their contributors. Most of their money is being provided by Fairwinds LNG, a joint venture by TransCanada and ConocoPhillips. Fairwinds wants approval to lease town-owned land on Harpswell Neck for an LNG storage terminal.

But the two opposition groups said they will share some information but may not identify donors by name. They say they have raised more than $130,000 between them from small donors.

“The selectmen are on some kind of witch hunt but I am not sure what they are after,” Fishing Families for Harpswell spokesman Jim Merryman said. “Our donations have come from citizens and a few small businesses.”

Merryman said his group has received more than $30,000 from 191 donors, ranging from a young boy who gave nine cents to the largest donation of $1,000.

Fair Play for Harpswell spokesman Chris Duval said the group has raised more than $100,000 from residents and nonresidents as well as a few small businesses. He said the group has not received funds from large corporations or companies that might be in competition with Fairwinds.

Duval said more than 600 donors have contributed to the group and it would be impossible to contact each donor to find out if they would be willing to be identified.

Deborah Levensailor, spokeswoman for Friends of Fairwinds, which backs the project, said her group expects to receive about $3,000 for advertising from Fairwinds.

“We took the $3,000 because there was no other way that we could get our message out,” she said.

And Dan Miller, spokesman for fishermen who support the LNG project, said the advertisements his group ran were paid for by Fairwinds.

Voters will decide the issue March 9. Harpswell would receive $8 million a year in revenues if voters agree to let Fairwinds develop 68 acres at the former U.S. Navy fuel depot.

Fairwinds spokesman Peter Micciche said the companies he represents plan to disclose how much money they have invested in the Harpswell campaign.

“It will be very clear where our money is coming from and where the money has been going,” Micciche said. “We don’t have anything to hide.”

AP-ES-03-03-04 0216EST