SEARSPORT - The first of three scheduled public hearings on a controversial liquefied petroleum gas terminal proposal, scheduled for tonight, has been cancelled after snow closed the hearing's venue, Searsport District High School, early today. According to Planning Board Chairman Bruce Probert the meetings will resume Thursday, Jan. 17.

Tonight's hearing was expected to include a presentation by former presidential security advisor Richard Clarke, whose firm Good Harbor Consulting was commissioned by Islesboro Islands Trust to do a risk assessmenet of the prosoped development. The report, released on Jan. 14, can be viewed here.

Speaking on Wednesday, Probert said he didn't yet know if Clarke would be able to reschedule his presentation for Thursday. 

An additional hearing is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 18 and two dates have been set aside later in the month if needed.

The terminal facility, as proposed by Colorado-based DCP Midstream, would include a 22.7 million gallon storage tank and the infrastructure necessary to receive imports of the fuel — liquefied petroleum gas is the supercooled form of propane — by cargo ship, then distribute it by truck and pipeline.

State and federal regulators have given the developer the green light, but resistance at the local level has slowed the approval process in what would be its final stage.

Initially the opponents were limited to abutting land owners and residents of the town, who voiced concerns about the safety of the facility and negative impacts to tourism. But the opposition has grown to include groups in surrounding municipalities, particularly Belfast and Islesboro, and the list of objections has grown proportionately.

To accomodate testimony and cross examination by DCP MIdstream, citizens or groups directly affected by the proposal and members of the public, the Planning Board has set out an open-ended timeline for public hearings before making its own deliberations.

"The public has a right to be heard," Probert said on Sunday. "They all have the right to be heard. You're not going to put a limit on it."

Probert initially projected the first day or two of public hearings this week would be given to the Good Harbor report.

After that, he said, the board will pick up where it left off in December hearing testimony from DCP Midstream, the opposition group Thanks But No Tank, others with standing, members of the public and finally the Planning Board itself.

"The Planning Board hasn't asked any questions," Probert said. "And we have questions."

Testimony will continue on Jan. 28 and 29 if necessary, he said, adding that he doesn't currently see a reason that public comment would go into February.

Both DCP Midstream and opponents of the LPG terminal will have 10 days after the conclusion of the hearings to file briefs before the Planning Board starts its own deliberations.

Probert said the board's job is to weigh the application and testimony against the board's 18 performance standards and additional town standards. Some of these, he pointed out, are open to different interpretations, like the requirement that a development not have adverse effects on neighboring property values. A study commissioned last year by the town said the LPG terminal would, while one ordered by DCP Midstream said it wouldn't.

"If the applicant meets all the standards, we cannot deny them," he said. "But the burden of proof is on the applicant."

Probert said he expects whatever decision the Planning Board delivers to be appealed.

The public hearings on the DCP Midstream LPG terminal application will be held on Jan. 17 and 18, at Searsport District High School, 24 Mortland Road. Meetings start at 6 p.m.

Contact Ethan Andrews by e-mail at news@penbaypilot.com