ISLESBORO, Maine — Members of a local island land trust have hired a firm headed by former White House counterterrorism adviser Richard A. Clarke to do an independent risk assessment of Searsport’s controversial $40 million liquid propane terminal and storage tank project.
“It’s an unusual step for us to go and hire this internationally known group of experts,” Stephen Miller, executive director of the Islesboro Islands Trust, said Tuesday. “But we think that the urgency and risk associated with this proposal really warrants this.”
Clarke served as a counterterrorism adviser to Presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. His firm, Good Harbor Consulting, is based in Arlington, Va.
“From terrorism to natural disasters, from criminal actions to accidents, we provide unparalleled knowledge and a deep understanding of the threats and response needs currently facing government officials and private executives,” states the company’s website.
In Maine, the consulting firm will assess the proposed terminal and 22.7 million gallon storage tank, which Denver-based firm DCP Midstream would like to build in the Mack Point industrial zone. The project already has received approval from entities including the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Coast Guard.
It now awaits approval only from the town of Searsport. The Searsport Planning Board is reviewing DCP Midstream’s application and has given the go-ahead for independent impact studies on traffic and economics. Last month, longtime planning board chairman Bruce Probert said the town would not contract to have an independent safety study done.
Beginning with Islesboro earlier this summer, several other area communities have indicated that they want a say in Searsport’s decision.
Miller did not disclose how much the Islesboro Islands Trust will pay Good Harbor for the risk assessment but did say the trust had learned of the work the company does because the state of Rhode Island had it conduct a risk assessment of a proposed liquid natural gas terminal in Providence. In that case, Good Harbor found that the proposal was too risky and it was subsequently shelved, he said.
“But they also looked at an LNG project proposed for an island in the mouth of Boston Harbor and gave that a green light,” Miller said. “This is by no means a group that says no all the time. They just look at the facts.”
Good Harbor will look at issues including the blast zones around the storage tank and tanker ships, the capacity of local emergency services, maritime safety and more.
“They will deal only in facts. They will tell us: this is the threat, this is what it will cost should scenario A or B or C occur,” Miller said. “It’s an incredibly comprehensive process.”
He said that Clarke was on Islesboro this past weekend in relation to the study and will be present for the study’s “roll-out,” which he anticipates will happen very soon.
“To get information to the Searsport Planning Board before they make a decision — there’s some degree of urgency attached to the schedule here,” Miller said.
Roz Elliott of DCP Midstream said Tuesday evening that she was not aware of the specifics of the risk assessment study.
“Our focus has been and continues to be providing the planning board with information they need,” she said. “We believe our application is strong, and addresses all the [town’s] performance standards. What is really standing out now is the loud support we’re hearing from local Searsport residents.”
Miller said he is pleased that the land trust and other interested parties will have more facts at hand after the Good Harbor risk assessment is completed.
“We’re glad that we’re finally going to get impeccable information,” he said. “I am personally disappointed that this wasn’t required of the applicant, but it wasn’t, and we had to step up.”
Clarke is not an entirely reliable source. He has made highly controversial assertions regarding the post-911 wars that are not supported by the facts at the time, and especially in hindsight.
That said, it is clear that DCP Midstream’s fleet of lawyers are in for a bigger fight than they had counted on, and that is not a bad thing whatsoever. If the people in and around Searsport decide this massive tank is not worth the risk, it should be up to them to determine the future of this potentially very dangerous and onerous (truck traffic-wise) project. I am all for America’s energy independence, but not at a huge risk of public safety.
Anyone remember Bantry Bay 1979? I certainly do.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betelgeuse_incident
Exactly what does that have to do with propane tanks in Searsport ?? As per past practices this starts the death by a thousand cuts Maine is world famous for..Why anyone would even try to do business in this state full of BANANA’s(Build Absolutly Nothing Anywhere Near Anything) is beyond me…Well except Windfarms that line King Angus’s and other dem hacks pockets…Those are OK fine…
Not only does Islesboro want to tell people what not to build in their back yard they want to tell everyone else what not to build in theirs. As to safety studies wouldn’t that be park of the US Coast Guard study? It would seem that if there was a security/safety concern that Homeland Security would be all over that. We learn from accidents in the past and build systems to prevent them in the future. If there is not enough emergency equipment then make purchasing it part of the permit. We need jobs, we need energy, we need to stop blocking everything that comes along.
This tank will not contribute to America’s energy independence. DCP has testified that the fuel will be imported from the North Sea–hardly a domestic source. Readers may also be interested to know that DCP Midstream owns or operates 12 fractioning fcilities (and other processing operations). Give ’em an inch and want to bet they’ll take a mile?
And while Ms. Elliot believes she hears “loud support” from Searsport, DCP has refused to acknowledge that the tank would have a regional impact; they have provided no risk assessment and safety information to residents of Searsport or the Midcoast region and they have been deaf to requests for a dialogue on this and other issues of concern. They reneged on their promise to contact individuals who had requested answers to questions–months agao–including a Stockton Spring selectman, while ingratiating themselves around town where they can. I would not look forward to having a company in Searport who would likely run their installation from computers with “their” staff a safe distance away from the Midcoast, if not Denver.
Not sure what you’re after here, Coho. The link appears to hook to Amazon for a DVD.
I say suspend the ferry service to Islesboro. Let them all live in the 18th century again. Why have any progress that can help the state and create jobs?
One does have to question why Mr Probert and the board do not think an independent safety study was not needed. I would think that safety would have to be a priority in anything the planning board gives the thumbs up or thumbs down to.
Yes, you’d think so, but Mr. Probert, the planning board chairman and former longtime executive with the Swedish firm that handles shipping operations at Mack Point, expresses what appears to be his greatest concern which is meeting DCP Midstream’s “timeline.” He certainly has demonstrated far less enthusiasm for taking the required time to look into the concerns of those who have to live with this dangerous, economically destructive and totally unneeded industrial development.
A limited liability front for the gas distribution operations of two of the largest fossil energy corporations in the world (Phillips66 and Duke Energy), DCP is already many months behind in its announced plans to break ground at Mack Point. Mr. Probert appears decidedly reluctant to delay what so far thanks in part to the LePage administration has been a largely fast-tracked, grossly inadequate and in some respects even corrupt permitting process. Contrary to longtime practice, he has even imposed a gag order on all public testimony at planning board sessions that applies directly to DCP.
George Kerper, another planning board member, seems to be of a similar mind. Upon learning of IIT’s plans Monday evening, he questioned why the board should even bother to review the findings of Good Harbor’s study when it is released. “We already have the information that we may need,” Mr. Kerper told fellow board members.
You are of course right. Safety has to be part of the review. And throughout it all it has been. The tank has been scrutinized by the state, army corp and Coast Guard. Those aren’t small hoops. Mr. Taber would everyone believe every body of govt has been bought and corrupted. More hysterics. The Coast Guard is related to Homeland Security so they were no doubt all over this. Good question to raise. It’s been well answered despite the tempest Mr.Taber screams will happen.
More cheap shots from someone who seems to be acting like a company troll. I doubt you’ve read the Coast Guard waterways assessment report, “Ken,” but I have. This report raises considerable concern about terrorism and details several potential scenarios whereby attackers might blow up an LPG tanker using easily obtainable weapons.
Despite this expert testimony the agencies so far involved in permitting this project have in fact offered “small hoops” the company has been easily able to do with whatever you do with “small hoops,” which is to say get what it wants. I don’t know about the federal agencies but the Maine Department of Environmental Protection has been an absolute patsy for DCP, fast-tracking the review process and ignoring or downplaying a number of disquieting realities about the proposed project.
Maybe this has something to do with the LePage Administration’s penchant for whoring for big business no matter what the ultimate cost to ordinary working people. In case anyone doesn’t know by now, the man who put the goober in gubernatorial appointed Patricia Aho as MDEP commissioner last year. For eight years prior to that, former Pierce Atwood attorney Aho just happened to be the chief lobbyist in Augusta for the petroleum, chemical and pharmaceutical industries.
Hey “Taber” if that’s your name. Mine is Ken. Look me up. More hysterics. From reading your plentiful posts, I expect your delusional suspicions. Terrorists targeting Searsport? Get real. Why other cities come to mind first. You are irrational and hyperbolic in your comments.
By the way, the ascerbic reference to “wh….ring” should be flagged. Please be respectful. That is unnecessary.
Thank you for stepping up, IIT and doing the work that DCP will not. DCP is in it for profits for THEMSELF and their stock holders ONLY. DCP is afraid of the truth regarding the risks of this project to the region. You go IIT and THANK YOU!
Mr. Clarke is maybe the one public person that I would trust to give a fair assessment…He blew the whistle on Bush/Cheney regarding the lies they used to get the US to invade Iraq….and suddenly they didn’t know who he was..
Yet another group of busy bodies trying to stifle business and jobs. Great.
Do you really believe there are people whose mission in life is “to stifle business and jobs”? Perhaps you are at the comic book level and believe in comic book villains who love to chortle over their wicked deeds, which may include stifling business and jobs. But, seriously, outside the comic books (and perhaps outside of strategy sessions at the Blaine House) do you really think that kind of motivation makes any sense?
Can you perhaps get your head around the idea that there are plenty of good intelligent people in this world who wish to block certain specific business developments for any number of good honest reasons, reasons that you yourself might find make sense?
Those reasons might include:
— that such a development would pose a significant physical danger to those living in the area.
— Or such a development would irreversibly waste and destroy natural resources and degrade the environment upon which we all depend.
— Or such a development would actually guarantee fewer net jobs by hurting existing businesses and discouraging other new ones.
— Or such a development would hurt local taxpayers by raising municipal services costs and lowering property values.
— Or such a development is simply not needed and beyond serving the bottom line of some distant and uncaring corporation contributes nothing to the public good.
DCP wishes to build a terminal at Mack Point for what it says is the purpose of importing liquefied propane gas from places like Qatar and the North Sea, this at a time when use of propane in Maine, New England and the country is seriously on the decline and as a result of new fracking technology there is a glut in domestic production, much of which is destined to be shipped overseas.
Every single one of the suggested potential reasons above why it might be a good idea to oppose a proposed business development applies to DCP’s thoroughly wrongheaded scheme for Searsport.
Comic book villains? Really? If anyone deserves title to that crown, it’s your cohort in campaigning lies, wannabe congresswoman Meredith Ares who drew several slanderous editorial cartoons about the tank. When you are low on facts, you trumpet your unqualified aspersions. Hard to take you seriously when you can’t even get the basics right. You better hope Duke Energy isn’t reading your trash talk since they have nothing to do with this tank. It’s as simple as looking up the company ownership on the web. Sounds like you would prefer to sound the sirens of misdirection, rather than take the accountability for acknowledging when you have got it wrong.
“Hard to take you seriously when you can’t even get the basics right,” you say, then assert that Duke Energy has nothing to do with the tank. If you really knew what you were talking about instead of irresponsibly lobbing unfounded accusations about other people’s dishonesty, you would know that the “D” in DCP stands for Duke Energy, whose midstream gas operations are conducted by its wholly owned subsidiary Spectra Energy. Duke operating through Spectra is 50 percent owner of DCP Midstream.
You have been outed as ignorant, “Ken,” (perhaps deliberately so) and possibly as dishonest yourself. If you’re going to assassinate other people’s character, it would be honorable of you to at least do your dirty work under your own name rather than sniping from the thickets of anonymity.
“Taber ” if that’s your real name, look up an annual report. Spectra energy and duke energy are not together. I took to minutes of research to validate that. If you desire to be credible, you would look this up and admit you are wrong. That would give you credibility. I am offended by your jibes and accusations. Just because we differ, does not mean there is s big plot out there. I am real. Grow up. Others can have legitimate opinions too. If you want to be heard and respected, then abide by the same overarching principles. Otherwise, you aren’t worth listening to
Respectfully, Ken
Oct. 30, 2006 press release from Duke Energy:
“HOUSTON – Duke Energy’s existing natural gas business will be called Spectra Energy Corp when the operations become a stand-alone, publicly traded company, targeted for Jan. 1, 2007.
“Once the separation is complete, Spectra Energy will consist of the business unit now known as Duke Energy Gas Transmission and Duke Energy’s 50 percent ownership interest in Duke Energy Field Services, which recently announced its new name – DCP Midstream.
“The Spectra Energy name replaces Gas SpinCo, Inc. (GasCo), the temporary name given to the natural gas business.”
Nothing has changed in the past half dozen years. If you’re going to quibble about non-essential matters, at least get your facts straight.
Still wrong “Taber”. Yes, they split. Now they are TWO separate companies. Duke Energy is no longer part of the mix. Learn to read a current annual report. Show me in Duke’s annual report where DCP is listed? Investor 101 is a class you might consider taking. It’s not inconsequential when you can’t get a simple fact right. Prove it on Duke’s current annual report. You won’t, because you don’t have the class to admit when you have something wrong, “Mr. Taber.”
Oh, that’s right, you have me. They’re two separate companies! Like DCP Midstream Searsport LLC is a different company from DCP Midstream LLC, which, in turn, is a different company from DCP Midstream Partners. No connections with respect to ownership and who directs what, right? I suppose that on the first day of 2007 Duke Energy just gave away its entire gas operations to a new company named Spectra Energy. Who do you suppose is behind Spectra Energy? Mull that one over and if you’re still the complete nitpicking nerd you appear to be you can come back with yet another asinine quibble. I probably won’t bother to read it.
Remedial business classes are available online “Taber” btw, respect the guidelines of name calling. you are out of order and should be flagged.
Front Street Ship Yard in Belfast = – one year out and 82 Full time jobs w/ no adverse effects/only positive outcomes on the community. Think about it. We can do better than DCP.
red an annual report? Or is above your reding level? Let me know when you catch up on your studies.
I’m still working on my “reding” level.
just dumbing it down for you.
Again so wrong “Taber” if that’s your real name. I take it you are either too lazy, arrogant, or deceitful to do a simple little thing like look up Spectra Energy and Duke Energy to validate your assertions. I researched it in two minutes because I dont trust others without evidence. They are separate.
If you are a person of credibility, you will look this up and admit you are wrong. That Would make you worthy of reasonable discussion.
I am offended by your jibes and accusations. Just because you do not lik