PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 2, 2021
I am a retired South Portland teacher. Having taught at James Otis Kaler School I experienced firsthand the fumes coming from the oil tanks. The tanks are in close proximity to the school and next to the playgrounds, bordering them on two sides. Now knowing these fumes contain carcinogens, I am very concerned about the potential harm which they may cause. Kaler has students in pre-kindergarten through Grade 5. These students are among the most vulnerable of our residents. It is our job to protect them. The legislature is drafting a bill that will address the air quality issues created by these tanks in South Portland and other tanks around our state. If you have experiences concerning tank emissions, you can e-mail them at ENR@legislature.maine.gov. ~ Louisa Beckett, South Portland