THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 25, 1995 TAG: 9505250443
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
House Speaker Thomas W. Moss Jr. has accused Gov. George F. Allen of failing to take a leadership role in the review of Virginia Beach's settlement with North Carolina over the proposed Lake Gaston water pipeline.
Moss, in a letter dated Monday to Allen, also said it is unacceptable for the governor to insist that he'll call a special General Assembly session to consider the agreement only if he's assured it will be ratified.
``I do not believe it is appropriate to bind members of the legislature to any vote, particularly as a precondition to calling a legislative session,'' Moss, a Democrat from Norfolk, wrote to Allen, a Republican.
Allen responded Wednesday night with a letter blaming Moss for delaying any resolution to the Gaston dispute.
``Now that you have appointed a House of Delegates panel to address the issue,'' Allen wrote in response, ``representatives of my administration can commence to work in earnest with designated members in both houses.''
Moss' letter included the announcement that he hasappointed a 10-member subcommittee to review the Lake Gaston issue.
The subcommittee includes legislators from across the state, including some areas that have no particular interest in the pipeline. Its chairman is Del. Franklin P. Hall, D-Richmond.
``I will instruct them to proceed with all due haste,'' Moss said. ``However, I am extremely concerned that the process cannot be completed within the time frame envisioned by North Carolina and Virginia Beach.''
The agreement signed by officials of the two governments on April 28 set a 60-day timetable for approval by both states' legislatures. The North Carolina General Assembly is in session, but Allen would have to call a special session for Virginia lawmakers.
Under the settlement, North Carolina would end more than 10 years of fighting to stop the proposed 76-mile pipeline, which would carry up to 60 million gallons of water a day to Southeastern Virginia.
But the settlement also would prevent Norfolk, which supplies Virginia Beach with water, from selling its surplus outside the immediate region.
Norfolk officials, joined by Moss and the rest of the city's legislative delegation, have said Virginia Beach must compensate Norfolk for the water sales restriction, but the two sides are far apart on the amount of compensation.
Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera E. Oberndorf said Monday that the neighboring cities would try to reach a solution by next week.
Moss, in his letter to Allen, indicated that Norfolk's concerns and those of Southside Virginians along the Roanoke River basin who still oppose the project could be resolved or at least placated.
But, he told Allen, ``unless you intend to be more involved and provide more leadership than you have exhibited thus far, I am fearful that this process is ordained to fail.''
Allen spokesman Ken Stroupe said that the governor was surprised by the letter's ``partisan tone.'' He said Allen always has supported the pipeline. But, he added, ``that doesn't mean we're wedded to the particulars of this agreement.''
KEYWORDS: LAKE GASTON PIPELINE AGREEMENT SETTLEMENT by CNB