Protect South Portland logo Protect South Portland

For over a decade, we’ve brought our community together to advocate for cleaner air, healthier waters, and a safer, more sustainable future. From mobilizing community opposition to tar sands oils, to campaigning to pass South Portland’s precedent-setting Clear Skies Ordinance, to successfully pushing the City to pass a ban on synthetic pesticide, we work to turn community concerns into meaningful actions.

The issue front and center

South Portland Tank Farms

Use the slider inside the map to change the search radius around the fence lines. Facilities, schools and child care, the buffer and DEP air monitors are labeled.

There are 120 large petroleum tanks in South Portland, run by six major oil companies. Residents have raised concerns for decades that the tanks compromise air quality for the people who live, work and play very close to them. New state data measuring air quality along the fencelines of these tank farms has confirmed what we’ve felt, and smelled, for years: They are bad neighbors, profiting off harm to our community.

Concerning readings were collected near all the tanks, but two tank farms stand out. At Citgo on Mechanic Street, which sits very close to homes in Pleasantdale, monitors found the air consistently and dramatically exceeded state standards for benzene, a well-studied carcinogen. Benzene measurements were highest at South Portland Terminal on Lincoln Street, bordered by businesses, homes and Forest City Cemetery, with one reading registering 12 times higher than the state’s ambient air quality standard, meant to protect people from cancer risk. Read the full campaign page: South Portland Tank Farms.

Aerial view of the oil storage tank farms along South Portland's waterfront
The tank farms along South Portland’s working waterfront. Photo: Protect South Portland archives.

Now is the time to act:

  • Make plans to come to the City Council workshop on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 6:30 p.m., South Portland High School (637 Highland Ave.).
  • Email the City Council before the workshop and ask them to pressure the DEP to use the existing licensing process to stop tank farms from dumping pollutants into our neighborhoods. City Council email addresses are found here: southportland.gov/411/City-Council.
  • Email protectsouthportland@gmail.com to get plugged into local tank farm efforts.

Act now   City Council emails

Next: City Council workshop - Tuesday, Oct. 27, 6:30 p.m., South Portland High School. Act now.