Calvert Commissioners’ President Steve Weems
Prince Frederick, MD – The new Calvert Board of County Commissioners conducted its first meeting since the December swearing-in ceremony Tuesday, Jan. 6.
With two new board members—Commissioner Mike Hart [R-District 1] and Commissioner Tom Hejl [R-At Large]—and new officers—Commissioners’ President Steve Weems [R-At Large] and Vice President Evan K. Slaughenhoupt Jr. [R-District 3]—a few citizens seized the day for the purpose of outlining goals and issues for the coming year. The comments received by two Lusby residents—Len Zuza and Tracey Eno—focused on the ongoing project to construct a $3.8 billion liquefaction facility at the Dominion Cove Point Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Plant.
Zuza, who unsuccessfully challenged state Delegate Anthony “Tony” O’Donnell [R-District 29C] in the November General Election, noted that county government officials had recently held a workshop with St. Leonard residents regarding the clamor for a second access road for the communities of Calvert Beach and Long Beach. “Nowhere have I seen any effort by the previous board to address the road and environmental hazards that residents of Lusby face, even though these threats are a result of the agreement that the previous board made with Dominion that authorized the construction of the LNG export facility,” Zuza stated. “The risks from Dominion construction are not ‘theoretical.’ They are real and happening now.”
Zuza asked the commissioners to “find the resources needed to protect your constituents” by designing and building “an effective emergency evacuation road for residents in the vicinity of Cove Point.” Additionally, Zuza urged the commissioners to lobby local Maryland General Assembly lawmakers to identify funding to widen Cove Point Road.
“The previous board of county commissioners’ actions put residents at immediate and long-term risk,” said Zuza. “You can act to reduce those threats.”
“I appreciate the lighter feeling in this room,” said Eno, whose organization, Calvert Citizens for a Healthy Community (CCHC) often sparred with former commissioners Jerry Clark and Susan Shaw over the Dominion project. The citizens group is adamantly opposed to Dominion’s plan to build the liquefaction unit, which would give the Lusby plant the capability to export LNG to foreign countries via the facility’s offshore terminal.
Eno outlined CCHC’s three specific goals for the new year. The goals are: fostering good relationships and two-way conversation with the new board, promoting the safety of citizens through a comprehensive safety study and protect the health of citizens through monitoring of air, water and noise during Dominion’s construction.
To achieve the first goal, Eno suggested the board modify the public comment segment of their weekly meeting to include responses from the commissioners to remarks delivered by citizens. She also affirmed that Weems’ idea for the formation of a “stakeholder group” would also help open up dialogue on the controversial project.
For the safety component of the CCHC’s 2015 goals, Eno indicated the formation of a panel of experts to “study, develop and implement” a comprehensive emergency plan along with a planning session to develop an “evacuation road in Cove Point” would be needed.
“We request that the county halt plans for Dominion’s proposed evacuation road through Dasher Drive until that [proposed] study process is complete,” Eno stated. “We remain convinced that Dasher Drive is not the best option because it is too close to the potential source of emergency. For the safety of Cove Point residents we need an escape route. Oversized loads, using both lanes of traffic on Cove Point Road and traveling at four miles an hour will block access to emergency personnel on Cove Point Road. Those deliveries may start any day. We must have a functional evacuation road.”
Eno also stated that an “independent research firm” was needed to monitor the air quality, ground water and noise during the three-year construction project.
“I am specifically asking for a written e-mail response to these issues, with your suggestions for next steps,” said Eno.
Afterwards, Weems was asked if the board would honor Eno’s request for a written response.
“I want to see what the other board members think first,” said Weems.
During the board’s pre-meeting session with department directors and staff, Dominion spokesman Karl Neddenien indicated that the project is well underway, with work at one site—in Solomons where a temporary pier has been built, almost complete. Work at the project offsite staging area and the preliminary work inside the plant in the area where the liquefaction unit will be built are also proceeding.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
