No houses or buildings would have to be razed for the pipeline, according to the company's filings with FERC. But AES would receive eminent domain authority - or the power of a government to take private property for public use - if the pipeline is approved by the commission, according to Tamara Young-Allen, a spokeswoman for the agency.
AES officials say that power would be used as a last resort. Negotiations between AES and affected property owners have not begun, according to the company.
The proposed pipeline would also run close to the Scarboro Landfill, said Roxanne Lynch, a spokeswoman for Harford County.
"With all the digging we do, we're concerned about an accident," she said. "We have grave concerns about that."
The planned route could also cross or come within a quarter-mile of several other landfills and dumps and several historical sites and districts, including Jerusalem Mill.
"This plan makes no sense," said state Del. Pat McDonough, who said he was upset that this would be the first project to be located on inland water, rather than along a coast. "We're the guinea pigs."
Some specifics about pipeline route are classified because they contain information that would be considered proprietary to businesses or other details, such as the location of valves, considered to be critical to the nation's energy infrastructure, said Young-Allen.
About half of the pipeline - 48 miles - would be in Maryland, and the other half - 40 miles - would be in Pennsylvania. During construction, about 1,600 acres would be affected by a 75- to 100-foot right-of-way needed to construct the pipeline. Most - about 75 miles or 91 percent - of the route is near or along existing utility and highway right-of-ways, though much of that land is privately owned, according to the FERC reports.
The $250 million pipeline would end near Eagle, Pa., where three interstate pipelines that provide natural gas to the region come within one mile of one another, according to the company.
AES says the project would lower energy prices in the region by increasing the supply of natural gas.
The company has said that they will take steps to minimize the impact of pipeline construction, which would involve drilling a trench at least 5 feet deep.
Hundreds of people turned out for Monday's hearing in Dundalk And about 90 residents attended a hearing in Downingtown, Pa., on Wednesday, according to Young-Allen.
This year, FERC staff members recommended conditional approval for the LNG project. A final report from FERC is expected in August, with the five-member commission tentatively set to make a decision about the project in November.
More information is available at www.mid-atlanticexpress.com, www.aessparrowspointlng.com and www.ferc.gov.
laura.barnhardt@baltsun.com
