Dundalk residents came to Annapolis in March to protest “what stinks” ? a proposed liquefied natural gas terminal in Sparrows Point.
They were hoping to block construction of a terminal for as many as 150 ships a year on part of the old Bethlehem Steel site. What stinks now for the residents and their lawmakers here is gutted legislation that simply creates a task force to study the issue and report back by December.
“You couldn?t stop them anyway,” said Sen. Norman Stone, a 10-term Dundalk Democrat.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has “sole authority” to control where the terminals can be located. AES Corp. of Virginia has initiated an 18-month review process to win approval for a $650 million terminal and pipeline to bring the natural gas closer to consumers.
“It was the task force or nothing, I was told,” Stone said Monday, as bills sponsored by him and Del. Joseph Minnick neared final passage in both houses. “I?m not happy with it,” he said, but the measures were heavily lobbied by energy and shipping interests.
The 14-member task force will include scientists, environmentalists and energy company officials in addition to state officials and six community representatives to be named by Stone, Minnick and the other local lawmakers.
The panel will study the impact on recreational and commercial boating and fishing, possible damage to the environment and water quality, and the effects on property values.
Stone said he hopes that the task force will uncover information to give federal regulators that may block the LNG terminal. AES officials said the industry has an exemplary safety record, and many existing gas terminals, including one at Cove Point in Calvert County, are much closer to homes than the proposed dock in Dundalk.
