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From: Senator Bobby Zirkin [bounce@bounce.myngp.com] On Behalf Of
Senator Bobby Zirkin [zirkin2010@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 05, 2013 1:21 PM
To: Boblooch, Stephanie
Subject: A Message From the District 11 Team - Protecting Maryland's
Citizens With Pipeline Safety Measures
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Legislative Update - Protecting Maryland's Citizens With Pipeline Safety
Measures
A Message From The District 11 Team
Bobby Zirkin, Jon Cardin, Dan Morhaim, and Dana Stein
Dear Friends,
We are writing to update you on issues relating to pipelines and the oil
and gas industry in Maryland. The industry is attempting to construct
new transmission gas lines across the state and open up Maryland to
unsafe "fracking" practices.
To ensure safety and protect consumers and the environment, we have
introduced several bills in the Maryland General Assembly. The industry
has responded to these common-sense measures with attacks on our
citizens and on legislators rather than dealing with these serious
concerns.
In Baltimore and Harford Counties, Columbia Gas/NiSource is trying to
construct a major transmission line that would stretch from Owings Mills
to Fallston. While we don't oppose natural gas transmission, we believe
that the process is flawed. Their plan endangers environmental treasures
like Oregon Ridge Park and runs near schools, businesses, and
neighborhoods. Land agents have intimidated citizens, using the threat
of eminent domain to take people's property and impose easements.
But these issues are not confined to our region. In Frederick County,
Dominion Gas is suing the State of Maryland in Federal Court to force
construction of a gas compressor station despite objections from the
Maryland Department of the Environment. The industry continues to lobby
to open up Western Maryland to "fracking." Given their poor track record
and mismanagement in Pennsylvania and elsewhere, we believe that it is
not in the best interests of our state.
Natural gas is an essential component of establishing energy
independence. But pipelines carrying natural gas - often decades old -
lack proper inspections and regulations. The results of inaction have
been catastrophic. We applaud US Senator Jay Rockefeller for his
decision to hold hearings on this issue, as well as the National
Transportation Safety Board for their honesty in assessing the real
dangers posed by unregulated pipelines. We believe that it is time for
our state to play an active role in ensuring that gas lines are safe
within our borders.
Major explosions in Sissonville, West Virginia; Springfield,
Massachusetts; Kansas City, Missouri; San Bruno, California; and
Allentown, Pennsylvania have provided stark reminders of the gravity of
this issue. An internet search using "gas pipeline explosions" will
quickly reveal the extent of this problem.
Many other states have done far more than Maryland. These States have
recognized that the federal government has not been an effective
regulator, granting too much unrestricted authority to the industry. No
industry should be allowed to disregard environmental protection,
trample on citizens' property rights, and remain above the jurisdiction
of state and local government.
The legislation we support would give the Public Service Commission a
role in inspecting natural gas lines to ensure safety from leaks and
explosions. The explosion in West Virginia could have been avoided had
there been proper inspections using modern techniques. In that case the
pipeline had corroded to one-third the proper size, but no one knew.
When Columbia Gas's land agents appeared along with their high-paid
lobbyists in Baltimore County, community groups of all types (Falls Road
Community Association, Valleys Planning Council, Greater Greenspring
Association, Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters to name a few)
alerted us to this crisis. But what began as a local pipeline issue
confronting our friends, neighbors, and constituents has emerged as a
major statewide issue that has significance to every citizen in
Maryland.
As requested by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, we have
suggested an alternate route that would avoid sensitive environmental
areas, parks, and neighborhoods; but the industry does not want to spend
one penny more to accommodate local concerns. The one route that we
suggested would re-route the line up I-795 and onto an existing BGE
easement to avoid all residential areas completely. That route was
published on the FERC website. The industry appears to fear that
addressing local issues may set a precedent that would require them to
be more responsible and responsive in other parts of the country.
Once again, we believe that issues of pipeline safety and consumer and
environmental protection are important to every citizen of the state.
You can access copies of the legislation* that we have introduced this
Session by going to mgaleg.maryland.gov . Thank you for your attention
to this serious matter, and we look forward to hearing from you soon.
Senator Bobby Zirkin
Delegate Jon Cardin
Delegate Dan Morhaim
Delegate Dana Stein
*(Enter Senate Bill SB396, 397, 602, 603, 604, 605, 862, 863, 864, 907,
985, 986. All of these are also filed in the House of Delegates.)
By Authority, The Committee to Elect Bobby Zirkin, Adam Block, Treas.
By Authority, Committee to Elect Bobby Zirkin, Adam Block, Treasurer
10995 Owings Mills Blvd.
Suite 220
Owings Mills, MD 21117
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