The fury about a proposed liquefied natural gas project began in eastern Baltimore County, but it doesn't end there.
More than 120 LNG opponents filled a meeting room in Harford County last night to voice concerns about an 88-mile pipeline that would pass close to or cut through backyards, school grounds and parks.
"This is an ill-conceived project," said Donna Ichniowski, a Street resident, one of the dozens of residents and officials who spoke about the proposed line, 30 inches in diameter, that would connect a proposed LNG terminal on Sparrows Point to three interstate gas lines in southern Pennsylvania.
Recreational groups, activists and representatives of elected officials opposed to the project, including Harford County Executive David Craig, said they were upset about the potential loss of trees and forests, the impact on wetlands and a lack of security along the proposed pipeline.
The hearing in Edgewood was the last of three meetings this week held by the Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which is evaluating the proposal by AES Corp. The global power-supply company wants to construct the LNG terminal at the old Bethlehem Steel shipyard to receive overseas tankers and to build the pipeline to distribute the gas. The corps is considering a request by AES to dredge 118 acres in the Patapsco River to accommodate the tankers.
"If this goes through, we'll be talking about the Love Canal of Sparrows Point and the Chesapeake Bay," said Ichniowski, whose sister co-founded the LNG opposition team in Dundalk.
The proposed pipeline would cross within 50 feet of 179 houses and could also "affect wells and septic systems," according to a FERC report.
The line would also cross the properties of Fallston Middle, Fallston High and Youth's Benefit Elementary School in Fallston. And it would come within a quarter-mile of Dublin Elementary in Street, Victory Villa Elementary School in Parkville, Glenmar Elementary School in Middle River and Middle River Middle School, in addition to dozens of churches and parks, including crossing through Gunpowder State Park and Camp Conowingo, the Girl Scout camp in Cecil County.
"How much risk can one community absorb?" said Dr. Roman Ratych, president of the Greater Fallston Association.
