Metro
In Brief
|
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
MARYLAND
Utility Defends Safety of Gas Storage Plan
A proposal to store liquefied natural gas at a plant in Prince George's County is cost-effective and critical to Washington Gas's ability to meet the region's growing demand for natural gas, utility officials said yesterday during a zoning hearing.
Washington Gas is seeking approval to use a 21-acre site it owns in Chillum, near the District border, to store 12 million gallons of liquefied gas.
Residents have voiced opposition to the plan, questioning how safe the plant would be in such a densely populated area. Imani Kazana, president of the Avondale Citizens Association, said yesterday that her house is about 500 feet from the site. "I would be right on the edge of the danger," she said.
Tim Sargeant, a Washington Gas spokesman, said 60 similar facilities operate safely in the United States, including a liquefied gas tank in Baltimore run by Baltimore Gas & Electric. The Chillum storage facility would be the first in the Washington region.
The county Planning Board rejected the proposal in September, saying it clashed with plans for high-density, pedestrian-oriented development around county Metro stations.
No decision was made yesterday by the zoning hearing examiner. The hearing is scheduled to continue Jan. 18.
Cars Exchange Gunfire in Oxon Hill Area
People in two moving cars shot at each other yesterday during the afternoon rush hour in the Oxon Hill area near the Capital Beltway and a stray bullet struck a third car, Prince George's County police said. The driver of the car was not injured.
Shortly before 5 p.m., people in a Toyota Corolla and Honda Accord were traveling in the 6000 block of Livingston Road and shooting at each other when the bullet hit a Mercedes-Benz, said Cpl. Kim Brown, a police spokeswoman.
The driver of the Mercedes phoned police, who impounded her car as evidence, Brown said. Police were searching last night for the people in the two other cars.
Brown said it was unclear whether anyone was hit in the exchange of bullets, but area hospitals had admitted no gunshot victims as of late yesterday.
In Reversal, Meade High to Get IB Program
Anne Arundel County school board members yesterday unanimously approved expansion of the college-preparatory International Baccalaureate program into Meade High School, answering pleas from the Fort Meade and National Security Agency communities for stronger academic offerings in local schools.
