Port official disputes terminal mold report

[Guest guest]

Monday, March 20, 2006

Port official disputes terminal mold report

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/local/060320mold.shtml

By TREVOR MAXWELL, Portland Press Herald Writer

Portland,ME

Jeff Monroe, Portland's ports and transportation director, is

disputing a claim that the city failed in its $1.2 million effort to

eliminate health concerns at the International Marine Terminal.

The Boston Globe reported Saturday that a federal report - expected

to be released in the next few weeks - showed a continuing health

hazard at the terminal, formerly the home dock of the Scotia Prince.

The report is based on a three-day inspection last March by federal

health officials. Around the time of the inspection, the city was

finishing renovations and new construction designed to eliminate

toxic mold.

Owners of the Scotia Prince and city officials have been feuding

since August 2004 about conditions at the terminal on the western

waterfront. Owners of the ferry said its workers were becoming ill

from mold, and that the city's efforts at remediation didn't solve

the problems. City officials disagreed, and last fall the city and

the Scotia Prince ended their 35-year relationship.

City councilors have since signed a new agreement with Bay Ferries

Ltd., owner of The Cat, which is expected to begin service this

spring to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

In their inspection last year, health officials found " residual

fungal contamination " and structural problems in the roof that will

lead to " continued microbial growth, " the Globe reported.

Monroe told WMTW-TV (Channel 8) on Sunday that the Globe article

contained inaccuracies, but he did not elaborate. Neither Monroe nor

City Manager ph Gray returned calls requesting comment Sunday.

Kayatta, an attorney representing the city in arbitration

with Scotia Prince Cruises, also could not be reached.

Mark Mac, chief executive at Bay Ferries, told the Globe he

was not aware of the upcoming report. His company's high-speed

catamarans have long been expected to replace the Scotia Prince at

the terminal.

" The city of Portland has given us assurances in our lease that the

terminal does not contain any health hazards, " Mac said.

City officials have deemed the terminal safe. An environmental

consultant was hired to test the facility in April last year after

the federal inspection. A few months later, transportation services

resumed at the terminal, with several companies using it as a hub

for bus routes.

Last November, the City Council voted unanimously to enter a two-

year lease with Bay Ferries, bringing The Cat to Portland Harbor.

Under the agreement, Bay Ferries will pay as much as $200,000 the

first season and $225,000 the second season to operate three days a

week, June through mid-October.

Staff Writer Trevor Maxwell can be contacted at 791-6451 or at:

tmaxwell@...