The Commerce Department has overridden Maryland's objection to a proposed liquefied natural gas terminal at Sparrows Point near Baltimore.
The department determined that the national interest served by the facility outweighs what it described as "limited adverse coastal effects."
Gov. Martin O'Malley sharply criticized the decision, saying the project presents a homeland security and environmental threat.
Sen. Barbara Mikulski pledged to search for legislative options to stop the project.
Arlington, Va.-based AES Corp. wants to build the LNG terminal at the former Bethlehem Steel shipyard, along with an 88-mile pipeline that would pump the gas to Pennsylvania.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has recommended conditional approval of the project and could make a final decision by the end of November.
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