South Portland beach reopens as oil spill investigation continues
Photo / Renee Cordes
This was the scene at Willard Beach late Sunday afternoon, a day after the beach reopened to the public.
South Portland's Willard Beach reopened Saturday amid an ongoing investigation into a motor oil spill that prompted authorities to close the popular spot for three days last week.
Response operations are being led by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, which has opened an enforcement case without publicly identifying the responsible party.
Representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard and the city of South Portland are also involved in the response to the spill on Cottage Road, which has been linked to the former Hill Service Station.
David Madore, deputy commissioner with the department, told Mainebiz that DEP personnel had taken six soil samples at Willard Beach last Wednesday in response to the spill.
"The samples were collected in in the intertidal zone 150 to 200 feet in either direction from the concrete storm drain that extends from the Willow Street entrance to the beach," Madore said via email on Saturday. "Although petroleum hydrocarbons were detected at all sample locations, their concentrations were well below the guideline values."
As a result of those findings, he added, "the DEP does not consider there is a risk to human health." The city reopened the beach on Saturday.
There were no further updates as of Monday morning.
In a statement last week, U.S. Coast Guard Captain Amy Florentino said the incident "highlights the strong partnerships we have at the federal, state and local level here in South Portland," and pointed to the response as a team effort.
"The safety of the public is our primary concern," she added.
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