LNG -- Prince George's County MD, Washington DC -- please act ASAP (no later than 1/21/09)!
Please help in the effort to oppose the creation of a dangerous liquified natural gas (LNG) facility near our neighborhoods. The facility would be built at 2130 Chillum Rd, Hyattsville MD. Here is where it would be on the map:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en& safe=active&q=2130+Chillum+Road+Hyattsville &ie=UTF8&ll=38.954336,-76.976051&spn=0.008577,0.013819& z=16&iwloc=addr
If a liquified natural gas (LNG) facility leaks, vapors can escape and travel far from the facility and easily explode, killing people and destroying the surrounding community.
Experts think that, for the facility Washington Gas has proposed for Chillum Rd, such deadly effects could be felt 3-4 miles away. This is not even to mention the risk of burns and death that would be ever-present for neighborhoods and businesses that would be near the planned facility. The people who would be threatened by the proposed Chillum Rd. facility would be: Schoolchildren, nursing home residents (a nursing home neighbors the facility--there' d be no way to evacuate the residents in time), neighbors, Metro riders (West Hyattsville metro station is very close), and business owners and patrons.
For how to help, see below.
--Sara
----- Original Message -----
From: Imani Kazana
Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 12:28 PM
Subject: LNG action needed NOW
I received information yesterday that written comments related to Washington Gas Company's proposed Gas Portfolio Plan (which includes their desire to build the LNG plant on Chillum Road) must be submitted to the Public Service Commission "immediately" (preferably today/tomorrow, but no later than Wed. 1/21/09).
Your comments should be addressed to:
Terry Romine, Executive Secretary
Public Service Commission
William Donald Schaefer Tower
6 St. Paul St., 16th Floor
Baltimore, MD 21202-68006
Or, to comment on the internet, use this webform: http://webapp.psc.state.md.us/intranet/Info/feedback_new.cfm#comments
fax no.: 410-333-3802 (if problems, the tele. no. is 410-767-8067)
Be sure to include the case number ML113860 in your correspondence or internet message.
Please request that the Commission schedule a public hearing on this matter (preferably to be held in or near Hyattsville MD to ensure public access).
Your comments should deal with one or more of the following points.
that the gas need projections are not reliable due to exaggerated numbers in the recent past
the projections have not factored in a lower demand now and coming years, due to a slowdown in construction during the current economic crisis
the projections have not factored in the warming trends in our region, due to global warming
that gas storage for emergency periods (I.e. "design days") should be provided in locations which are not within or close to densely populated areas
that Chillum Road is an inappropriate location for LNG processing and storage
that the Gas Company has ignored opportunities during the past several years (since 2001) to purchase a better location at which to pursue its LNG processing and storage desires, choosing instead to distribute its healthy profits to shareholders and to law firms that push its Chillum Road desires in the zoning and court systems
that new and soon to be built LNG resources along the east coast should be explored if an appropriate site cannot be found in the immediate area at this time
that an upgraded piping system which includes greater usage of compression stations is probably an adequate option to meet realistic demand in coming years
Thank you in advance for your action at this time to force a public discussion on this proposal, and please help spread the word.
Note: The Public Service Commission holds an administrative hearing each Wednesday, and the agendas are established on the preceding Thursdays. We want to get our ideas to the Commission so they can think about them before any hearing on this matter (not scheduled yet, as of 1/13/09).
Upcoming Administrative Meeting Agendas
Final Agenda for January 14, 2009 Revised 01/08/2009
[http://webapp.psc.state.md.us/Intranet/Maillog/adminAgendabyDte_new.cfm?adminDate=01/21/2009] Draft Agenda for January 21, 2009
[http://webapp.psc.state.md.us/Intranet/Maillog/adminAgendabyDte_new.cfm?adminDate=01/28/2009] Draft Agenda for January 28, 2009
[http://webapp.psc.state.md.us/Intranet/Maillog/adminAgendabyDte_new.cfm?adminDate=02/04/2009] Draft Agenda for February 4, 2009
FYI--
Here are some documents so you can read more info about the effort to prevent an LNG facility from being built near West Hyattsville Metro Station, and about the issue of LNG in general. In some of the docs, the writers are testifying or writing to a particular governing body before which there was a pending decision at the time which is no longer open, but the general ideas in these docs are still relevant.
Go to http://www.his.com/~sara/LNG/
Download any or all--the most recent is actually last, because they are in alphabetical order:
Campos_Feb_2008.pdf --Will Campos, Prince George's County Councilman,
District 2, Feb 2008 letter.
Imani_Kazana_Feb_2008.pdf --Imani Kazana, Washington Gas Watch Alliance, Feb 2008 testimony.
Keyspan_article.pdf --news article from 2006 about safety violations in an LNG plant in Mass.
Mannan_et_al_LNG_report.pdf --scientific paper in the journal LNG
review (sorry print is so light), 2005.
Reasons_against_LNG_and_problems-solution_chart--2006. pdf --prepared by Washington Gas Watch Alliance, 2006.
Reasons_to_regulate_2008.doc --prepared by Washington Gas Watch Alliance, 2008.
WG12.02.2008PUBLIC2009-2013GASPORTFOLIOPLAN. pdf --JAN 2009: the actual Wash Gas plan just filed with MD Public Service Commission, with cover e-mails by Imani Kazana of Washington Gas Watch Alliance.
p.s. A Washington Post article from earlier this year is online at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/11/AR2008031102895.html
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en& safe=active&q=2130+Chillum+Road+Hyattsville &ie=UTF8&ll=38.954336,-76.976051&spn=0.008577,0.013819& z=16&iwloc=addr
If a liquified natural gas (LNG) facility leaks, vapors can escape and travel far from the facility and easily explode, killing people and destroying the surrounding community.
Experts think that, for the facility Washington Gas has proposed for Chillum Rd, such deadly effects could be felt 3-4 miles away. This is not even to mention the risk of burns and death that would be ever-present for neighborhoods and businesses that would be near the planned facility. The people who would be threatened by the proposed Chillum Rd. facility would be: Schoolchildren, nursing home residents (a nursing home neighbors the facility--there' d be no way to evacuate the residents in time), neighbors, Metro riders (West Hyattsville metro station is very close), and business owners and patrons.
For how to help, see below.
--Sara
----- Original Message -----
From: Imani Kazana
Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 12:28 PM
Subject: LNG action needed NOW
I received information yesterday that written comments related to Washington Gas Company's proposed Gas Portfolio Plan (which includes their desire to build the LNG plant on Chillum Road) must be submitted to the Public Service Commission "immediately" (preferably today/tomorrow, but no later than Wed. 1/21/09).
Your comments should be addressed to:
Terry Romine, Executive Secretary
Public Service Commission
William Donald Schaefer Tower
6 St. Paul St., 16th Floor
Baltimore, MD 21202-68006
Or, to comment on the internet, use this webform: http://webapp.psc.state.md.us/intranet/Info/feedback_new.cfm#comments
fax no.: 410-333-3802 (if problems, the tele. no. is 410-767-8067)
Be sure to include the case number ML113860 in your correspondence or internet message.
Please request that the Commission schedule a public hearing on this matter (preferably to be held in or near Hyattsville MD to ensure public access).
Your comments should deal with one or more of the following points.
that the gas need projections are not reliable due to exaggerated numbers in the recent past
the projections have not factored in a lower demand now and coming years, due to a slowdown in construction during the current economic crisis
the projections have not factored in the warming trends in our region, due to global warming
that gas storage for emergency periods (I.e. "design days") should be provided in locations which are not within or close to densely populated areas
that Chillum Road is an inappropriate location for LNG processing and storage
that the Gas Company has ignored opportunities during the past several years (since 2001) to purchase a better location at which to pursue its LNG processing and storage desires, choosing instead to distribute its healthy profits to shareholders and to law firms that push its Chillum Road desires in the zoning and court systems
that new and soon to be built LNG resources along the east coast should be explored if an appropriate site cannot be found in the immediate area at this time
that an upgraded piping system which includes greater usage of compression stations is probably an adequate option to meet realistic demand in coming years
Thank you in advance for your action at this time to force a public discussion on this proposal, and please help spread the word.
Note: The Public Service Commission holds an administrative hearing each Wednesday, and the agendas are established on the preceding Thursdays. We want to get our ideas to the Commission so they can think about them before any hearing on this matter (not scheduled yet, as of 1/13/09).
Upcoming Administrative Meeting Agendas
Final Agenda for January 14, 2009 Revised 01/08/2009
[http://webapp.psc.state.md.us/Intranet/Maillog/adminAgendabyDte_new.cfm?adminDate=01/21/2009] Draft Agenda for January 21, 2009
[http://webapp.psc.state.md.us/Intranet/Maillog/adminAgendabyDte_new.cfm?adminDate=01/28/2009] Draft Agenda for January 28, 2009
[http://webapp.psc.state.md.us/Intranet/Maillog/adminAgendabyDte_new.cfm?adminDate=02/04/2009] Draft Agenda for February 4, 2009
FYI--
Here are some documents so you can read more info about the effort to prevent an LNG facility from being built near West Hyattsville Metro Station, and about the issue of LNG in general. In some of the docs, the writers are testifying or writing to a particular governing body before which there was a pending decision at the time which is no longer open, but the general ideas in these docs are still relevant.
Go to http://www.his.com/~sara/LNG/
Download any or all--the most recent is actually last, because they are in alphabetical order:
Campos_Feb_2008.pdf --Will Campos, Prince George's County Councilman,
District 2, Feb 2008 letter.
Imani_Kazana_Feb_2008.pdf --Imani Kazana, Washington Gas Watch Alliance, Feb 2008 testimony.
Keyspan_article.pdf --news article from 2006 about safety violations in an LNG plant in Mass.
Mannan_et_al_LNG_report.pdf --scientific paper in the journal LNG
review (sorry print is so light), 2005.
Reasons_against_LNG_and_problems-solution_chart--2006. pdf --prepared by Washington Gas Watch Alliance, 2006.
Reasons_to_regulate_2008.doc --prepared by Washington Gas Watch Alliance, 2008.
WG12.02.2008PUBLIC2009-2013GASPORTFOLIOPLAN. pdf --JAN 2009: the actual Wash Gas plan just filed with MD Public Service Commission, with cover e-mails by Imani Kazana of Washington Gas Watch Alliance.
p.s. A Washington Post article from earlier this year is online at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/11/AR2008031102895.html