After local attempts failed, state lawmakers Tuesday heard testimony on two proposals that would effectively block a proposed liquefied natural gas terminal off the Patapsco River on Baltimore County?s Sparrows Point peninsula.
Apparently undeterred by a federal judge who overturned one and likely will overturn a second county bill aimed at derailing the $400 million plan near the Key Bridge, residents and county officials testified before the Senate Finance Committee in favor of state legislation that would halt the project in its tracks. One proposal would disqualify any LNG proposal within two miles of any residence in Baltimore County from state recommendation.
Virginia-based AES Corp.?s proposal comes within 1.3 miles to homes in Dundalk?s historic Turner?s Station neighborhood.
“Our local, state and federal officials are doing everything in their power to help stop this,” said Sharon Beazley, coordinator of the grassroots LNG Opposition Team, outside the hearing room. “Maybe one of us will find that silver bullet.”
A second bill requires LNG facility owners to pay an impact fee for extra fire and safety services they require. Both proposals are sponsored by Sen. Norman Stone, D-Baltimore County, and backed by County Executive Jim Smith and officials from virtually every level. Gov. Martin O?Malley vocally opposed the facility last year.
Stone sponsored 2006 legislation, but lawmakers settled on a task force to study the issue. That task force, co-chaired by Beazley and including several other opposition team members, submitted a report last month highlighting concerns of terrorism, explosions and pollution triggered by dredging contaminated sediment.
But AES officials called the report biased and factually incorrect. They noted the task force failed to include a reference list or include any documentation provided by experts.
Testifying Tuesday, project manager Kent Morton said one bill would prohibit the same type of dredging needed to support the Port of Baltimore.
“Dredging in the subject area will remove contaminants from shallow and deeper sediment so they will never migrate into other sensitive areas of the Bay,” Morton said in written testimony.
Earlier this month, Judge Richard Bennett threw out a county law restricting LNG terminals to at least five miles from homes, saying the Natural Gas Act gives the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission exclusive authority to determine LNG siting.
