SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine (AP) _ The South Portland Planning Board is endorsing s proposal to ban tar sands oil from coming into the Maine city.
The Portland Press Herald reports the board voted 6-1 on Tuesday night to recommend the City Council approve the proposal. About 80 people attended South Portland High School for the vote - far fewer than the nearly 500 who gathered last week for the City Council's first vote on the subject.
Environmentalists say tar sands are difficult to clean if spilled and dangerous to ship. Opponents of the proposed restrictions say environmental concerns are overstated and the ban would cost the city jobs.
The proposal goes to the City Council for a final vote July 21.