Federal hearing on Sparrows Point energy terminal draws hundreds

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Hundreds of Baltimore County residents plus federal, state and local officials urged the U.S. energy commission to deny plans for a liquefied natural gas plant at Sparrows Point, blasting the approval process as favorable to energy firms.

Members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission — which will ultimately approve or deny a proposed $400 million LNG facility and 88-mile pipeline through Harford County — heard testimony from scores of residents and lawmakers at a public hearing Tuesday evening in a packed Dundalk auditorium.

Commission staff members earlier this year recommended conditional approval for the project, saying it would have limited environmental and security impacts.

“Their report says it will have no impact on environmental life at the terminal,” Rep. C.A. “Dutch” Ruppersberger said at the latest hearing. “That’s because nothing could live at the LNG site. All aquatic life would be dead.”

He also cited a U.S. Coast Guard report released in February that criticized Virginia-based energy company AES Corp. for not taking security risks seriously.

Under the company’s plans, tankers would import LNG to the terminal at the former Bethlehem Steel shipyard, less than two miles from homes in Turner’s Station. The gas would be revaporized and pumped via an 88-mile pipeline through Harford and into southern Pennsylvania.

Gov. Martin O’Malley’s administration was represented at the hearing by Department of Natural Resources Secretary John Griffin and Maryland Emergency Management Agency Director Richard Muth, who said tankers would need 12 hours to travel from the mouth of the Bay to the terminal.

“Twelve hours is a long time to hope for the best,” Muth said.

Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith took issue with the federal review process, which he said requires the commission to develop an environmental and safety impact report — then review it themselves. More than 150 issues are identified in the report, which AES can respond to after the public hearings, he said.

“AES gets to hear the people,” Smith said. “The people don’t get to hear AES.”

Jeers and boos met the sparse few who spoke in favor of the project. Rupert Denney, president of the Maryland Maritime Association, said AES has agreed to let other commercial vessels use the terminal when an LNG tanker is not at berth.

“Where do you live?” someone in the crowd shouted.

The commission is expected to complete a final report by mid-August and could issue a decision by the end of November. Public comments are due Monday.

jmalarkey@baltimoreexaminer.com

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