SOUTH PORTLAND — Residents of South Portland have voted down an initiative aimed at blocking the flow of tar sands oil to the city.
Voters rejected the referendum Tuesday by a margin of 4,453 to 4,261 votes. It would have banned the expansion and enlargement of any existing petroleum storage tanks or distribution facilities along South Portland’s waterfront.
Supporters were concerned that a pipeline that sends crude oil north from South Portland could be reversed to bring tar sands oil from Canada. They say that would expose the area and residents to harmful toxins and that the failed measure was the only way to ensure that doesn’t happen.
Opponents say the ban was unnecessary and harmful. They say there’s no proposal to reverse the pipeline and that the ordinance would have hurt businesses.
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