Opponents Of New Gas Plant Ask Court To Halt Construction

BALTIMORE (AP) -- Opponents of a liquefied natural gas export facility in Calvert County are asking a federal court to halt construction until it can hear their appeal of the project's approval.

The Baltimore Sun reports (http://bsun.md/1Fs05P6 ) lawyers for three environment groups filed a motion Monday with the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, saying residents in the Dominion Cove Point LNG terminal area in Lusby are already suffering from dust, noise and heavy truck traffic with preliminary construction activity.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the Richmond, Virginia-based Dominion says it expects the plant's approval to be upheld.

The Energy Regulatory Commission concluded last September that the $3.8 billion project poses no significant risks to nearby residents' safety and no major environmental impacts.

Dominion expects the construction to be completed by 2017.
------
Information from: The Baltimore Sun, http://www.baltimoresun.com