Evening star., 1951-09-06
GasCompany Seeking
To Insure Emergency
Supply for D. {. Area

9uppIY Tor D. !. Area
Negotiations are under way be-
tween the Washington Gas Light
Co. and the Transcontinental Gas
Pipeline Co. looking to insuring a
natural gas supply for the WASH
ington area in the event of an
emergency,
This. was revealed today at a
Federal Power Commission hear
ing on the Washington company's
application for authority to con-
struct standby gas storage plant
near Rockville. Md.
Howard B. Noyes. company vice
president, testified that CORE
Spondence is going on between
Everett j. Boothby, WGLC presi-
dent, and Transcontinental. Mr..
Noyes said that the regular whole
sale supply of natural gas here
is Atlantic Seaboard Corp. Should
that supply fail, due to an emer-
gency, WGLC is seeking to secure
a supply from Transcontinental
through an emergency connection,
Obliged by Contract.
Mr.. Noyes told Trial Examiner
S. w. Jensen he believes Seaboard
is obliged by its contract to supply
WGLC'S entire requirements. But
he said there had been some
minor failures on the Seaboard
system in the past, curtailing nat
ural gas deliveries here for short
periods.
The company needs the stand
by plant at Rockville badly" Mr..
NoyeS testified.
Assistant County Attorney L,
Clark Ewing of Montgomery
County, Md, through questions,
developed that in the event of any
accident at the new plant, parties
injured would have a legal right
of action against the gas COM
pany. Mr.. Noyes declared that the
company has attempted in every
way possible, to make the plant
as safe as possible. regardless Of
any legal applications.
The whole WGLC system is
designed for an average winter
day of five degrees above zero. !
Mr.. Noyes testified. He said there
are four days a year when the
average daily temperature is be-
low 20 degrees here.
Closing Statement.
WGLC Attorney C. Oscar Berry
in a closing statement, anticipated
a peak day use next winter Of 203
million cubic feet of gas. Wash
ington'S gas supply is virtually
dependent now on single nat
ural gas line. Mr.. Berry said, in
arguing for the reserve facilities.
Here. he declared, there are no
supplemental gas facilities that
can be shut of, such as industrial
plants, in time of emergency be-
cause the Washington area is
largely residential. He told the
examiner that this plant is the
most economical and feasible and
offers the best supply of gas on
short notice. and every known
precaution is being taken for it's
safety; storage facilities will be
buried underground and opera
ton will be safe.
FPC Attorney Jacbb Goldberg
hammered away at the likelihood /
that the company will use the new |
plant merely as an excuse to cut I
its own costs. by reducing the |
amount Of gas it would have to |
buy from the wholesaler in the
coolest part of winter. He indi-
Gated that the new plant might .
become a white elephant" and
said it could improve the COM
pany's financial condition.
Mr.. Noyes told Mr.. Jensen yes
terday that storage of gas at
Rockville will be available to the
company's whole system. Vir- !
ginia, Maryland and the District
will benefit. he said.
Permanent Authority Asked.
The gas company has a tenn
porary permit from the commits |
sion to construct facilities at /
Rockville. but Is seeking a cer-
tif1cate Of convenience and neces-
sity on permanent basis.
Bradford White. engineer for
the company which designed the
projected storage plant, assured
the commission the installation at
Rockville will be perfectly safe,
not an undue fire hazard, and will
be in conformity with the best
engineering practice.
Mr.. White said it is not COM
mon practice to have propane
storage tanks underground, the
more usual plan being to place
them on concrete supports above |
ground. But he said he feels the /
tanks will be better protected,
when covered, and that there will
be a more uniform temperature |
for storage. He testified there is |
no greater danger of leakage with
OrODane than anV 0thar f1I1id