THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, January 21, 1995 TAG: 9501210225
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KAREN WEINTRAUB, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 130 lines
The final agency that must approve the Lake Gaston project released a report Friday saying the pipeline would be the best way to relieve Hampton Roads' desperate need for water.
The report, a draft environmental impact statement issued by the staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, is not the agency's final decision, but it is a strong indication of how the commission will rule this summer.
The report undercut arguments offered by the state of North Carolina and other pipeline opponents.
It said the region required the water that would be provided by the pipeline, that alternatives advanced by opponents were either less efficient or beyond the scope of current technology, and that the project would do little damage to the environment.
If the commission agrees, construction of the 76-mile pipeline could begin this summer, ecstatic Virginia Beach officials said.
``For me personally, this is a sweet confirmation of all that we have told our residents, the public along the pipeline and our friends in North Carolina,'' Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera E. Oberndorf said Friday.
``It's a major step forward for us,'' Virginia Beach City Council member Louis R. Jones said. ``We're all very grateful and excited.''
But veterans of the 15-year battle agree that the water war is far from over.
``This looks like it has the kind of finality and direction that ought to bring this to a conclusion,'' U.S. Sen. Charles S. Robb said Friday, ``but as we learned in the past, that's not always the case. . . . I'm not going to make any statement I may have to eat tomorrow.''
North Carolina officials, who have been fighting to keep the water in their state, said they will challenge the report's conclusions during a 45-day comment period that should begin next week.
North Carolina has a federal injunction to stop construction of the pipeline until the commission makes its decision. It also has sued the U.S. Commerce Department and Virginia Beach over a previous permit. Mediation of that dispute could lead to an agreement between the states over the entire pipeline controversy, according to the court appointed mediator John Bickerman, of Washington.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Department of Commerce already have granted Virginia Beach permits for the pipeline. But North Carolina, led by Sen. Jesse Helms and state Attorney General Michael Easley, has challenged the project at every turn.
Lake Gaston, a man-made lake that straddles the Virginia-North Carolina line, serves a hydroelectric power plant operated by Virginia Power. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission licenses non-governmental power plants and must approve the pipeline.
Opponents of the Lake Gaston plan have argued that the project would seriously deplete the flow of the Roanoke River - which feeds the lake - threatening fish and endangering northeastern North Carolina's economic livelihood.
Alan S. Hirsch, North Carolina deputy attorney general, said Friday that the commission may have overlooked crucial evidence in its haste to complete the report.
``We're concerned by the rapid procedure,'' Hirsch said. ``When FERC has an opportunity to see our specific responses, we're sure they'll examine the matter again.''
The commission has been swayed by North Carolina's argument before.
Virginia officials have been lobbying heavily since then for the commission to complete its investigation quickly. Friday's report - released more than a month before it was expected - shows the impact of that pressure, Robb said.
A rapid decision is essential to Virginia Beach and the other nearby communities that are counting on the $142 million pipeline. The Beach, which buys its water from Norfolk, must tell that city by April whether it is proceeding with the project.
Norfolk is beginning a multiyear effort to upgrade its water system later this year. If it does not take the extra flow from Lake Gaston into account then, Virginia Beach will have to wait until the work is finished before Norfolk could expand to accommodate the additional water.
Councilman Jones said Friday's report may encourage Norfolk to wait for FERC's final decision before beginning its work.
The report concluded that the pipeline would have a minimal impact on the lake or anything along its path.
``The utility's proposal would not significantly affect flows, water quality or water availability in the Roanoke River or Albemarle Sound,'' according to a commission news release summarizing the report. ``Consequently, the proposed project would have no measurable impact on striped bass or other fish.''
The report recommended that Virginia take several small measures to minimize any possible impacts.
Those steps - creating 12 acres of wetlands, providing a spawning area for walleye and ensuring there will be enough water flow for striped bass - had already been mandated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Virginia Beach began complying with them as early as 1983, according to Clarence O. Warnstaff, director of public utilities.
The report also agrees with Virginia Beach's assessment that taking water from Lake Gaston is the most efficient way to resolve the city's water crisis.
The lack of a municipal water supply in Virginia Beach has slowly been choking the state's largest city. Water restrictions, imposed nearly three years ago, have left residents' lawns brown and cars dirty; the lack of water also has helped slow the city's growth to a trickle.
Virginia Beach officials conceived of the Lake Gaston pipeline in the late 1970s, when they first realized they lacked adequate future water supplies.
Virginia Beach expects to draw up to 48 million gallons of water a day from Lake Gaston. Chesapeake, which also needs additional water, intends to get 10 million gallons a day, and Franklin and Isle of Wight County would each draw up to 1 million gallons a day.
Virginia Sen. John Warner said he hoped the report's favorable findings for his state would encourage North Carolina to help end what has been a long and bitter war. MEMO: COMPARING THE CHOICES
Lake Gaston Pipeline
Annual additional cost per household: $84
Environmental impact: minimal
Reliable in droughts and technically feasible
Ocean water desalination plant:
Annual additional cost per household: $474
Environmental impact: minimal
Less technically feasible than the pipeline.
Combination of waste water recycling and other sources:
Annual additional cost per household: $220
Could temporarily damage Norfolk's water supply.
Least reliable source of water during drought.
KEYWORDS: LAKE GASTON PIPELINE WATER SUPPLY PLAN ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT STATEMENT by CNB