Searsport: Looking to build a Balanced Economy for future Growth and a stronger community

The Proposed LPG Tank Project in Searsport

DCP Midstream, the limited liability corporation of ConocoPhillips and Spectra Energy has completed most of its permitting. Their proposal: 22.7 million gallon tank of liquid petroleum gas stored yards from Route 1, our neighbors’ homes and less than a mile from the General Alum Chemical plant.

The proposed action would be among the largest LPG terminal and bulk storage facilities on the East Coast. The terminal would be located on 24 acres on the edge of Long Cove in Searsport, Maine and will include ship unloading facilities, a mile long pipeline to a 22.7 million gallon bulk storage tank that will store compressed LPG at -44 °F, a 75-feet tall emergency propane flare that is permitted to burn up to 500 hours a year, additional tanks, compressors, pumps and refrigeration units encircled by a 62 foot containment dyke, LPG tanker truck loading stations, a rail car loading yard, and miles of roads and fencing. The permit states that each loading station can fill up to three trucks per hour.

The 24-acre Terminal grounds will be permanently clear-cut (tree buffer planting proposal located in same spot stream is being moved to), and will operate 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. The bulk storage tank will be 202-feet wide and 138-feet tall, located 50 feet above the current tanks, will tower above anything else in Searsport, and the tank and terminal will be visible for miles along the Midcoast and from Penobscot Bay – particularly at night. The Terminal’s truck and rail loading facilities are expected to fill 40 to 144 trucks and 8 rail cars per day – equating to 80 to 288 truck trips per day, or up to one truck trip through town every five to 15 minutes – double the current truck traffic from the Mack Point Intermodal Cargo terminal.

This massive facility will be located a stone’s throw from Route 1 and mere yards away from Searsport’s most popular restaurant, a motel and several businesses and private restaurants. Based on a review of the EPA’s requirements for Risk Management Plans, the blast zone for this project is at least one mile in radius and includes a large area of the town of Searsport including quite a number of private homes and businesses, and public properties. In contrast, the only other facility of this size in the east, in Tampa, Florida, has a safety and security zone of two miles with no other homes or businesses.

The tanker tankers will run on the Main Streets of Searsport, Winterport, Hampden and beyond, up to every 10 minutes, 24/7, 365 days a year. more or less, with the higher end being predicted in the winter by DCP. One tanker truck causes as much road damage as 9,160 cars ( Federal Highway Administration) DOTs funding to rebuild stretches of Searsport's deteriorating Main Street to handle the projected increase in truck traffic did has fallen through.

According to last years census, about 4-6% of all Mainers (around 2% in Searsport) use LPG as their primary heat source and the Governor has been investing in natural gas (not LPG) pipelines so it begs the question-why Searsport?...why Now?

Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection, Patricia Aho, was the principle lobbyist for the American Petroleum Institute from 2002-2011. Her department concluded that the proposed 138' tall by 202' wide tank as it's located 400' behind Angler's Restaurant meets the low- medium visual impact standard on the DEP's permit checklist.

The potential impacts from locating a major industrial facility on the edge of a residential and commercial area are significant. Members of TBNT are concerned that the extreme visual impact, excessive noise, light and air pollution, and the inherent safety, security, and environmental risks associated with this highly volatile and explosive fuel, will fundamentally and permanently change Searsport and the surrounding community and that the direct and indirect impacts of the project – including reduced scenic character, loss of recreational opportunities, heavy industrialization, pollution and the intensive truck traffic – will devastate the community and economy of Searsport, destroying their quality of life, making their homes and businesses unmerchantable.

If all of Maine's LPG is contained in one tank, will it cut down on the number of Maine's truck drivers currently serving the LPG market around the State?

Please voice your concerns today to local Searsport Officials and the media. For contact information email:help@thanksbutnotank.org

propane tank

Thanks But No Tank (“TBNT”) is a coalition of residents and small business owners living and working in the Searsport region that seek to support, protect, and maintain the region’s economy, environment, scenic character and quality of life. TBNT’s members are concerned that the safety and security impacts of the proposed DCP LPG Terminal and associated ship and rail traffic, as well as the excessive light, visual, noise, and air pollution, would severely, adversely and unduly affect their homes, businesses, environment community and quality of life.

DCP Permit, Coast Guard

DCP Permit, ACOE

DCP Tank

Get Involved

You can help by studying the issue, weighing in and helping with our efforts to learn what's in it for all us. Donations always encouraged. Checks payable to:
Thanks but no Tank
Send to: TBNT PO Box 150, Searsport, ME 04974

Many of Searsport's small businesses and residents have already donated. Money has been used to file a moratorium petition with the town for a two month, review the missing components of the DEP permit with the State, make the public aware of current safety mangement plans in place for businesses working in the Industrial zone and to get legal advice and an economic impact statement to detail to the public the ramifications of the Tank proposal.

Press the tank button to hear the song: "Big Tank"

email: help@thanksbutnotank.org

Big Tank was written by a TBNT member....Recorded by The Waxwings of Portland, Oregon

Thanks But No Tank

LPG Tank for Searsport? Watch it Now.
Belfast Community TV 2/20/12

Potential Significant Economic Impacts of proposed LPG Tank Development in Searsport, Maine

PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES AT THE DCP LPG MARINE TERMNAl James Fay, MIT

More Questions About Large Propane Tank, Some Answers Christine Parrish 3/1/12 Free Press MIT

"LNG is less hazardous than liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and liquefied ethylene, which have (1) higher specific gravities, (2) a greater tendency to form explosive vapor clouds, (3) lower minimum ignition energies (MIEs), and (4) higher fundamental burning velocities. " LPG facility is in fact more dangerous than an LNG facility: (See page 6) National Association of State Fire Marshals

View previous Searsport Town meetings here.

What You Can Do to Help

Communicate with the Board of Selectmen and the Planning Board. A professional independent economic impact study should be conducted to give the planning board the necessary information it needs to determine permitting standards in Searsport. Letters and phone calls carry weight. Be clear, factual and sincere with your thoughts.

Propane Tank Proposal Draws Hundreds to Searsport Meeting by Christine Parrish 2/22/12

Islands seek impact analysis for proposed Searsport propane terminal 2/20/12

Help Searsport Collect All the Facts

TBNT is a large group of business creators and tax payers who want to know "What's In It For Us?"

Our local economy held steady while much of the country went in serious decline. Hardworking small business owners have expanded opportunity in our region. These people have chosen to work harder than most, risk their life savings and give back to their towns all to make our region a better place for all. They deserve to be part of the conversation for future economic growth as do the home owners who call Main Street their home.

TBNT members have been working with local government on finding more of the answers. But it's not clear who's responsible for what, what we're voting for and who's controlling the message in the application process. The moratorium proposed for a citizen's vote would give the town a few extra months to study the DCP permit once it has been handed in to the town.

A petition was filed with Superior Court challenging the DEP in areas not given due diligence or lacking/ missing in the review process.

All of our neighbors share the financial burden of industrial investment, emergency management plans and our new regional school. This does give our neighbors a stake in the process. Can we really ask the State of Maine taxpayers to finance transportation and port development bonds or live in an industrial evacuation zone without having a voice? DCP has not given us all the facts that are relevant to our livelihoods and safety, nor should they be expected to. That's our job as citizens.

Re: Thanks But No Tank, et al., v. Department of Environmental Protection a Petition has been filed on behalf of TBNT (Thanks But No Tank) today, 12/2/12 in Superior Court (Kennebec County). The petition alleges four counts of violation of Maine law, including I - Visual Impacts, II - Impacts to Recreation, Navigation, Existing Uses, and Public Health, Safety and Welfare, III - Impacts to Air Quality, and IV - Noise Violations.

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