Montgomery County Sierra Club Letter to Bi-County Committee

 

Dear Chairman Mandel and Members of the Bi-County Committee:

 

            I have learned recently of concerns expressed by Sierra Club members in Prince George’s County that a bill to give that county more oversight over placement of liquid natural gas (LNG) processing facilities, designated PG/MC 111-06, and related to a specific facility proposed for West Hyattsville, is being delayed by members of the Montgomery County delegation.

 

Placing LNG facilities in highly populated areas is an environmental and safety risk, given the highly dangerous nature of the material being handled. In addition, the strong possibility of terrorist threats in the Washington, D.C. area suggests that all of us should be concerned over the placement of facilities such as this one. Thus, the concerns expressed by Prince George’s County residents and by their leaders are more than justified.

 

Washington Gas has suggested that there would be increased costs to consumers if this facility were not built. In truth, these costs, according to the estimates of Washington Gas itself, would be no more than $1.00 per month for each consuming household beginning in 2009. It seems reasonable to suggest that $12.00 a year is not too much to pay to ensure the safety of thousands of our neighbors. 

 

Essentially, the Montgomery County Group of the Sierra Club feels that this issue is one of local control over land use and environmental planning and does not depend on the additional information you have requested from Washington Gas. It is my understanding that Montgomery County already has exactly the sort of authority that Delegate Dereck Davis is trying to provide to Prince George’s County. Given this, it is unconscionable that Montgomery County legislators would attempt to block this bill, if indeed that is the case. If such a facility were being proposed for Kensington, Silver Spring, or Rockville, I wou! ld expect that each of you would be fighting it tooth and nail. Why, then, should residents of Prince George’s County be denied the same rights that we have to defend our communities?

 

On behalf of the Montgomery County Group’s more than 6,400 members, I strongly urge you to give your full support to PG/MC 111-06 regardless of what Washington Gas may tell you in tomorrow afternoon's meeting. 

 

Sincerely,

 

Anne Ambler, Chair

Sierra Club, Montgomery County Group