Evening star., 1953-08-13
Feelings Mixed
In Talbot County
On Oil Refinery
Many Favor Project
As Means to Provide
More Jobs in Area
By jones BiFchfieId
SfaF Sfaff Correspondent

GA0 O4Ns IMOsS mug. AOI-IOCol~
dents of this Eastern Shore
county were considering with
mixed feelings today the news
that it may lose a multi
million dollar oil refinery to it's
over-the-bay neighbor. Anne
Arundel County.
Opposition to the proposed
refinery has been strong in many
sections of Talbot County since
it was learned early this year
that the Pan-American Petrole-
um & Transport Co. had taken
options on LOO acres of land
in the Wade'S Point area.
Many residents of the refinery
area. which is in Bay Hundred
Magisterial District, have favored
the project on grounds that it
will provide extra jobs for resi-
dents.
The County Planning and
Zoning Commission and the
Board of County Commissioners
have not yet acted on request
to rezone for industrial use the
Wade'S Point area.
Opponents Speak.
Residents who have opposed
the ref1nery-those who believe
that Talbot County should
emphasize the development of
small, diversified industries-say
they hope the refinery will vacate
the Talbot area, thus bringing
an end to a fight which has been
raging in the county since
spring.
Residents of Bay Hundred
district. and its neighbor, st.
Michaels district, believe PAN
American has not given up the
Talbot site.
Spurred by a steady decline
In the fishing business, which
has been evident for the last
dozen or more years, the people
of these bayside areas are look
ing for additional means of en-
ployment. They believe a refin-
cry would help raise the stand
ard of living in these areas.
The fight here now has CEN
tered on the county zoning law.
Authorized by an enabling act
Of the State Legislature, the
county Planning and Zoning
Commission was established by
the County Commissioners last
May.
No Action Yet.
The f1ve-man zoning commis-
sion, headed by B. G. VoShell, a
retired oil executive, so far has
failed to act on the request to
re2one the Wade's Point area to
industrial use.
Mr.. Voshell said the commits
sion does not yet have all the
facts. He said the commission
has been assured there will be
no pollution from a refinery, but
has not yet determined if the
water supply is sufficient.
Aldace Walker, of Washington,
who with his mother, Mrs. Har-
old Walker, widow of a former
counsel for Pan-American, and
his sister, Mrs. Chip Robert, owns
about half Of the land needed
for the refinery. He said ample
water has been found.
Mr.. Walker said sufficient wa
ter has been located by an en-
gineering firm employed to make
test borings to Supply the Beth
lehem Steel Co."
Meanwhile, another Washing
tonian who owns a summer
estate in the area, is preparing
a last ditch fight to prevent the
land being rezoned.
Opposes Refinery.
E. B. Burling, jr., a Washing
ton attorney, heads an organiza-
tion of 80 residents who are pro-
testing the refinery, Mr.. Burling
has stated that he can delay the
project for at least two years in
the courts.
Mr.. Burling has said that the
request for rezoning was not
legally made, since neither the
oil company nor the commits
sioners of the town of st. Mi
chaels own the property which
they request to be rezoned. st.
Michaels Joined the oil company
in its request for rezoning, al
though it is located in a differ
ent magisterial district.
Former Gov. O'Conor of Mary
land has been employed by the
group of 80 to fight the rezoning.
Mr.. Walker said he proposes
to fight the lease to a finish in
the courts" if the property is not
rezoned.
Mr.. Walker said he does not
believe the company can locate
on the Anne Arundel site be-
cause it is above the Bay Bridge,
and he believes the Defense De-
partment would frown on such
an industry being located above
such a structure.
He said the refinery would
produce high octane fuel of the
type used in jet engines.
Economic Aid Seen.
Mr.. Walker said he believes
locating the refinery in Talbot
County would greatly help the
county economically and would
provide additional. employment
to many families.
Mr.. Walker said the options
held by the company expire early
IN September. He said they will
be renewed until the matter is
settled.
In Anne Arundel County the
commissioners have tentatively
rezoned a 940-acre tract in the
Marley Neck section for indus
trial use. Options on the site
are held by Pan-American, al
though no final decision has yet
been made on the plants loca-
ton.
This area is on the Patapsco
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