Washington Gas Vows to Store Liquid Natural Gas in Chillum

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. - Washington Gas officials are vowing to move forward with their proposal to put a liquefied natural gas storage plant in Chillum.

The Prince George's County Planning Board voted Thursday to reject the utility proposal to use its 21-acre site to store 12 million gallons of liquid gas.

Nearly 50 area residents joined lawmakers and officials with the county's Fire and EMS Department to testify against it.

Washington Gas spokesman Tim Sargeant tells The Washington Post that the utility will continue to seek recognition.

Officials are unsure where they'll go next.

A company attorney says the Maryland Public Service Commission is better qualified to decide the issue.

Liquefied natural gas is not flammable as long as it remains in liquid form, but a government-commissioned study found that terrorist attacks on tankers carrying it could trigger a massive fire.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)