South Portland to Vote on Crude Oil Ban

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine (AP) _ The South Portland City Council is considering an ordinance that prohibits loading crude oil in bulk onto marine tank vessels.
 
    The vote was scheduled for Monday night.
 
    The proposal is narrower in scope than one voters rejected last year. That ordinance was designed to prevent Portland Pipe Line Corp. from bringing tar sands oil into the city from Canada via underground pipe.
 
    About 200 people attended a June 25 presentation on the new proposal at a middle school. The crowded cheered the proposal with a standing ovation. Activist group Protect South Portland says bulk loading crude oil would ``create significant new sources of air pollution'' in the city.
 
    Monday's vote is to be followed by a planning board review July 15 and final vote July 21.