higher home values,
purer air,
cleaner rivers & streams,
cleaner rivers & streams,
assured water supply,
cherished rural character,
healthier Mattawoman Creek!
When a majority of Charles County commissioners--Peter Murphy, Amanda Stewart, and Ken Robinson--adopted the WCD, they reflected the public sentiment for less sprawl and more conservation that led to the 2016 comprehensive land-use plan. This means the Mattawoman Creek watershed and headwaters of the Port Tobacco River will be spared 17,000 new housing units as computed by pro-growth real-estate lobby.
But there is still work to do!
Unfortunately, hundreds of acres around the Maryland airport are still being considered for industrial development. Such development is contrary to the comprehensive plan, would damage an exceptionally sensitive environment, and would force taxpayers to spend millions for new sewer. This makes no sense, since market studies find the area to be uncompetitive with the surrounding region, which already has infrastructure.
Further, there is a large
“pipeline” of previously approved projects. And previous zoning for new commercial development
is exempted from the WCD, even though some is right in the Mattawoman Stream Valley. Future projects need close monitoring.
-New Comprehensive Plan brightens prognosis for Mattawoman's future health. The Watershed Conservation District is key. Learn more here.
NewsClick each title for more information
| Special Exception Hearing Natural gas compressor station Tues., February 13, 7 PM Board of Appeals (Continuation of hearings of July 11, Sept. 12 & Oct. 24, Nov. 14, and Dec, 12, 2017.)Charles County Government Bldg. 200 Baltimore St. La Plata Dominion Cove Point wants to build a huge natural-gas compressor station next to Piscataway National Park near Bryans Road.
It is part of "Eastern Market
Access," a large project in Maryland and Virginia
being pursued by Dominion to exploit fracked gas. "Charles Station" requires a special zoning exception from the Charles County Board of Appeals. The station would combust natural gas to drive a pair of compressors totaling over 24,000 horsepower (~18 megawatts). Two 50-foot stacks would exhaust combustion products. The
station would profoundly alter a unique landscape that over 60 years ago began as a conservation area to protect the view from Mt. Vernon! Since then, the area has attracted many conservation-minded individuals and easements. It is located in the Pomonkey Creek watershed (which is adjacent to the Mattawoman watershed), is next to Piscataway National Park, and is surrounded by
wetlands. In spite of a history of fires and explosions at compressor stations, permitting agencies are silent on the probability of such an accident. The uncertainty makes it difficult, if not impossible, for the Board of Appeals to weigh public safety and welfare in their decision, as its charter requires. Dominion
wants the
compressor station in order to fuel the gigawatt Mattawoman Energy
generating plant in the Mattawoman Creek watershed in Brandywine. This
power plant can't go forward without the compressor station. The
Mattawoman Energy plant would: lead to more atmospheric nitrogen
deposition; pollute a hiqh-quality Tier II segment of Mattawoman with
antiquated stormwater treatment; and has 17 miles of utility pipelines
crossing streams and wetlands in the Mattawoman, Zekiah, and Piscataway watersheds. |
