Dominion’s Cove Point Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) plant is in the process of renewing its operational permit, and seeking an expansion. In response, more than 100 Calvert County residents are pressuring government officials to take a closer look at the plant’s air and water pollution levels.

Cove Point LNG’s “Part 70” operating permit is required under the federal Clean Air Act, but even the current permit, approved by the Maryland Department of Environment, does not meet federal Environmental Protection Agency standards, according to a citizen report.

“When I first saw the permit for expansion I knew something was wrong,” Sevilla told The Bay Net.

“This is a piece of work – they’re not covering things up but they’re telling the truth selectively – it doesn’t look bad unless you know what to look for,” Sevilla said.

Simply put, Cove Point is permitted to release certain levels of pollutants, such as carbon monoxide and formaldehyde, but no external controls or monitoring is required.

Calvert’s air quality is only tested for ozone levels, at a government facility in Prince Frederick. Ozone is a highly unstable molecule that can easily combine with particulate matter to form acid rain.

“If you put that monitoring equipment right at the source, which is what I am asking for, you will see that those readings are going to be much higher,” Sevilla said.

Calvert air quality was fine up until 2003, when the air quality slipped to “moderate” range and the county has since been in “non-attainment” status for ozone levels. That same year, Cove Point began importing gas again.

“That was more than a coincidence; they are the biggest emitters,” Sevilla said.

Formaldehyde is one of 10 toxic air pollutions addressed in Cove Point’s permit, and Sevilla’s review of Dominion data shows the output of formaldehyde and five other toxins are higher than allowed by federal standards.

“They already have an active permit with these numbers in it, and Maryland MDE is not enforcing it,” Sevilla said of federal Clean Air Act requirements. “Maybe MDE is under staffed and they didn’t catch it, I’m not accusing anyone …But what does it look like, it looks like the state is not enforcing the standard.”

Sevilla said Dominion officials were quoted in news reports questioning her research.

“They said, ‘where are her figures coming from,’” Sevilla told The Bay Net. “My figures are their figures that they released to the public and submitted to MDE.”

Four of five Calvert County Commissioners issued their overwhelming support for Cove Point’s renewal and expansion, and urged officials to consider the renewal and expansion as separate issues and not contingent upon each other. The board received Sevilla’s report prior to voting to endorse Cove Point LNG.

During the only public hearing held on the issue, on May 15, Commissioner Wilson Parran (D- Huntingtown), read a letter from the commissioners declaring backing of the county’s “friend” at Cove Point.

The only Calvert County Commissioner to oppose the expedited approval of Cove Point’s paperwork is Barbara Stinnett (D-Owings).

“The most concerning thing is the fact that we all know there is air pollution already. ...June’s findings have shown that there definitely is a major problem with the air quality,” Stinnett told The Bay Net.

“June found these problems using Dominion’s own records, their own propaganda records,” Stinnett said. “I find it very lax that they have found this not a problem. …They continue to say this is a  perfectly safe plant, but we’re looking long range and they’re not. …They exaggerate to make their product look good, sort of like great advertising.

“I am very cautious with everything they say; this is the air you’re breathing,” Stinnett continued. “We have one of the highest cancer rates in state, maybe the nation. Where is it coming from? …People are just ignoring these things and Dominion is overlooking the obvious …We’re talking about the health of our generation and our future generations.”

 MDE officials at the meeting in May said Cove Point’s renewal application was approved prior to any public hearing, and the decision can only be reversed at this point. State officials at the meeting said all the questions raised will be investigated and written answers will be provided to all who attended the hearing.

The expansion request is pending, but MDE officials made it clear the two issues will be considered independently – which Sevilla and others say further obscures the total picture of Cove Point’s impact on the environment.

Sevilla said she has spoken at length with Sen. Roy Dyson (D- St. Mary’s, Calvert, Charles) and Gov. O’Malley’s office.