Dominion granted another extension in compressor site search

Energy company ‘reasonably hopeful’ for resolution within next 45 days

A federal judge has granted a request by Dominion Energy Cove Point LLC for a second 30day extension in its search for an alternative location for the natural gas compressor station that it had originally hoped to build in Br yans Road.

“Although [Dominion] has not yet found a suitable alternative, it has made progress and is reasonably hopeful that it will be able to conclude these efforts within the next 30-45 days,” wrote Dominion’s counsel Arthur E. Schmalz and Harry M. Johnson III in a status report filed with the U.S. District Court for Mar yland last Monday.

Last month, Dominion confirmed in a separate court filing that it is open to finding an alternative location for the controversial compressor station that it has been seeking to build on a 50-acre property it owns along Barrys Hill Road, and asked that Judge Peter J. Messitte postpone a hearing scheduled for late September until the search had been completed.

Messitte approved Dominion’s request to reschedule the hearing “at a future date if and when appropriate.”

In requesting the postponement, Schmalz and Johnson said that Dominion would issue regular monthly progress reports on its efforts to find alternatives to constructing the compressor facilities at the site.

Last Tuesday’s update was the second such monthly report the company has filed in the case. As with the first, it did not provide details on what was entailed in the search for alternatives.

Dominion has said that a suitable alternative location would also require approval by regulatory agencies such as the Federal Energy Regulator y Commission.

Dominion filed the federal lawsuit in May following a decision of the Charles County Board of Appeals to deny Dominion a special zoning exception that would allow it to construct a pair of natural-gas-fueled compressors to pump natural gas along the 88-milelong Cove Point Pipeline that runs through Charles and Prince George’s counties to the Cove Point terminal in Calvert County.

In voting 4-1 to deny Dominion’s application, the appeals board cited concerns about inadequate emergency response capability in the event of a fire or explosion and argued that Dominion had not been forthcoming with information that would adequately address these concerns.

Dominion’s federal lawsuit named the Charles County Government, the board of county commissioners and the board of appeals as defendants.

The Accokeek Mattawoman Piscataway Creeks Communities Council and nine local residents have petitioned Messitte to join the federal lawsuit as a collective co-defendant, although Messitte has yet to rule on whether to grant their petition.

Many residents of Bryans Road and the nearby Moyaone Reserve have opposed the proposed compressor station, arguing that Dominion has not satisfactorily addressed concerns over health and safety risks posed by exhaust emissions or the risk of a natural gas fire or explosion at the rural site.

Residents have also testified to the inadequacy of water pressure available to firefighters and frequent flooding on Barrys Hill Road, which could hamper access during an emergency.

In June, the Mount Vernon Ladies Association launched a campaign to oppose the construction of the compressor station, claiming that its exhaust towers would mar the view across the Potomac River from the Mount Vernon mansion.

Although Dominion has disputed that claim, the company entered into discussions with MVLA that led to Dominion agreeing to identify possible alternative locations for the compressor facility.

In late September, Dominion undertook routine maintenance and inspection work at the Bryans Road site that involved “controlled venting” of gas within the pipeline. The maintenance work is expected to be completed this week.

Dominion spokesperson Karl Neddenien told the Maryland Independent that the work was being done in conjunction with a scheduled three-week outage at the Cove Point LNG terminal.

“The planned maintenance at Marshall Hall gate site has gone well and we are wrapping up the work this week,” Neddenien said.

Neddenien said that the work involved reducing the pressure in the pipeline by using portable compressors to transfer the natural gas in the line to a second, parallel pipeline.

“This was part of our commitment to safety for maintenance crews working at other locations along the pipeline,” Neddenien said. “It also reduced emissions by more than 92 percent compared with venting the gas to the atmosphere.”

Neddenien said that “local emergency management personnel” had been notified of the venting, which created a lowpitched rumbling sound that could be heard by residents at least a half mile away from the site. but that it was not required to notify residents about the work.

The next status report from Dominion is expected at the end of October.