The articles Sept. 29 about Portland Pipe Line Corp. (“Portland pipeline business drying up as Canadian market shifts”; “Shrinking pipeline shipments deplete Maine’s oil cleanup fund”) describe the reduced use of its crude oil import facility – constructed in World War II, when the exigencies of war required a pipeline that would never be built today because it extends through and beside the public water supply for hundreds of thousands of Maine residents.

The articles fail to mention that Portland Pipe Line deals only in crude oil and is the sole company along the Portland waterfront that handles crude oil. Gulf, Sprague, Citgo and Buckeye all actively handle refined petroleum products. Their businesses are unrelated to the crude oil imported by Portland Pipe Line at its South Portland facility.

The transition away from crude oil imports provides opportunities to grow our local economy and to build a stronger, more diversified future for our region.

In May, the respected Urban Land Institute selected Portland and South Portland as its first Community Resiliency Program recipient. A team of nationally known experts studied our communities and released its preliminary report of recommendations for our economic future in a time of climate change, rising sea levels and potentially severe storm surges.

While the panel recognized that “South Portland has one of the largest trans-shipment points for fuels and crude oil,” it didn’t suggest expanding crude oil shipments.

Instead, the panel recommended that Portland and South Portland determine how the local economy can be better diversified. The panel suggested focusing on sectors other than fishing and tourism, including medicine, technology, higher education and arts and culture.

South Portland’s city seal bears the word “forward.” Portland Pipe Line, too, needs to move forward. Our citizens and City Council have made it clear that crude oil exporting is not part of our future.

Natalie E. West

South Portland

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