(Photo by Ben Clark)

(Photo by Ben Clark)

Mount Vernon has earned a spot on an annual list that names the country’s most endangered historic sites as it battles a proposal to put a natural gas compressor station a few miles from George Washington’s home.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation writes that Dominion Energy’s proposed project, which is located across the Potomac River in Accokeek, Md., could significantly alter visitors’ enjoyment of the estate.

“This project has the potential to negatively impact the historic viewshed of Mount Vernon and natural beauty of Piscataway National Park,” the trust writes.

Mount Vernon President and CEO Doug Bradburn calls the compressor an “unnecessary, shameful” development in a video imploring supporters to mobilize against the compressor station.

“This development is going to destroy the unique and special experience of walking in the footsteps of our Founding Father, of being inspired by the extraordinary view that he so enjoyed,” Bradburn says. “Can you imagine that view with a compressor station and smoke stacks?”

An artist rendering being circulated by opponents of the project gives one idea (the campaign has also posted audio online of what it sounds like during a blow-off sequence).

It’s a rendering and an argument that Dominion Energy says is misleading.

“We designed the facility after working with Mount Vernon for the past two years to ensure that it will not be visible from any part of Mount Vernon, including the very highest part,” said Dominion spokesman Karl Neddenien. He says that figures from the historic campaign are inaccurate, such as a claim that emissions stacks could be as high as 113 feet. “All the permits we’ve filed have clearly specified that the height of the exhaust pipes will be 50 feet.”

In a press conference on Tuesday, however, Bradburn argued that Dominion has no legal obligation to keep to their word, and that there is much still unknown about the effects of the proposal.

“They haven’t had final permitting on the shape of their building nor the height of its stacks, and their promises to us are not binding,” he said. “They cannot guarantee that emissions from the station cannot be seen. They cannot guarantee that the industrial development will not have a long-term negative impact on the forest canopy, which protects that view.”

Neddenien told DCist that there will be no visible emissions “while the facility is operating,” but could not say whether that would always be the case. As for the impact on the environment, he says putting the compressor on an existing site that already handles natural gas transmission will have less of an impact than building it elsewhere.

The company has federal approval, but it is waiting on air and water permits from the state of Maryland, according to the Washington Post. The company is also suing the county to begin construction.

More than 14,000 people have signed a petition opposing the station.

In discussion with WTOP today, Governor Ralph Northam said that he plans to look into the issue. “If it’s going to impact their view, if it’s going to contribute to environmental detriment, then it’s something I’m concerned about,” he said.

But Dominion says that, while they are willing to continue discussions with Mount Vernon officials about how to minimize their concerns, the company is not open to moving the station entirely.

“The compressor station moves gas through a transmission pipeline, so the location has to be chosen carefully. It obviously has to be along the pipeline itself. It also has to be a specific distance from the other stations and the community,” Neddenien said. “Relocation is not an option right now.”

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