By Kate Irish Collins

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Concerned about the impact of a proposed new liquid propane distribution facility at the Rigby Rail Yard, residents are pushing the South Portland City Council to implement a number of changes to the city’s ordinances and fire codes that would address the associated safety and environmental issues.

At a workshop on Wednesday, Oct. 14, which was held after the Current’s deadline, the council was set to hold an initial discussion about steps the city could take to alleviate the possibility of an explosion or spill from the liquid propane facility now being proposed by the NGL Supply Co.

NGL must relocate from Portland due to the state’s redevelopment of the Portland waterfront, according to Kevin Fitzgerald, the regional operations manager for NGL Energy Partners.

In a prior statement Fitzgerald said the company’s new facility in South Portland would be designed to “to safely meet the high demand for clean-burning propane” from area residents and businesses.

He also said that NGL has worked “closely with federal, state and local officials to carefully select the Rigby Yard” for its new location.

The proposal calls for the construction of one, above ground, 24,000-gallon storage tank, as opposed to the two, 60,000-gallon tanks the company originally asked for this past spring.

And Fitzgerald said he’s confident the most recent plan “conforms to all existing city ordinances,” unlike the company’s original proposal, which did not.

However, neighbors and others in the city have pointed out in recent weeks that the proposed number of railcars carrying liquid propane that would be on hand on any given day far exceeds the storage limits set by South Portland’s ordinances. That’s why they’re pushing the council to create more detailed rules that would strictly regulate what NGL is allowed to do.

In a memo provided to the council prior to Wednesday’s meeting, City Manager Jim Gailey said that while there are both local and national codes that apply to liquid propane facilities, “there are some additional requirements that could be added to make such facilities safer.”

Gailey’s memo added that, “Protecting the public health, safety and welfare of residents and businesses is the primary concern,” which is what gives the council the authority to add additional requirements if it so chooses.

And, Gailey agreed with those most concerned about the project that, “with the proximity of (propane) storage and distribution facilities in a very dense community like South Portland, any accident potentially impacts a large number of people and properties.”

Some potential topics for the council’s consideration, Gailey said, include crafting a better definition of what storage means, requiring two access routes into the facility and requiring monitoring equipment, along with the option of an automated shutdown in case of a problem.

Earlier this month, Gailey told councilors, he met with representatives of NGL to discuss many of the items raised in his memo.

He said reducing “the number of railcars within the facility was a source of significant discussion,” but Gailey said NGL would only commit to having 16 railcars on site at one time, instead of the eight or 12 cars requested by residents.

The planning office is reviewing NGL’s latest site plan application and the Planning Board could take up the project at its Nov. 10 meeting, if the application is deemed complete by that time.