Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 21, 1993                   TAG: 9304210262
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BY GEORGE KEGLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

PROPOSAL WOULD PROTECT RIVER FROM POWER LINE

Rep. Nick Rahall said his 1992 bill gave temporary federal "study" protection. Now he wants to give that section of the river permanent protection.

His bill is aimed at protection from Appalachian Power Co.'s proposed high-voltage power line, whose preferred route would cross the section of river.

However, Apco's latest plan is for an alternate route for the line to cross the river downstream beyond the study area.

Meanwhile, Virginia 9th District Rep. Rick Boucher said he is drafting a bill calling for study of scenic river status for 5 miles of the river in Giles County.

Boucher said he is renewing his 1992 legislation, rather than going along with Rahall's plan for immediate scenic-river status. He called for evaluation of the economic and environmental aspects of wild and scenic river status.

Although the river study legislation passed both houses of Congress last fall, work has not started on a study because funds were not available in the budget, according to John Haubert of the National Park Service.

The project was placed on the back burner until the start of the next fiscal year in October "and we would try to find the money," Haubert said. But a study will be ruled out if Rahall's new bill is approved.

Such a study would require a good analysis because this is "a pretty controversial issue," he said.

Charles Simmons, Apco vice president, said, "There is no way the line can go from west to east without crossing the New River."