THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 18, 1996 TAG: 9610180522
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KAREN WEINTRAUB AND TERRI WILLIAMS, STAFF WRITERS
LENGTH: 64 lines
The Suffolk City Council has deferred approval of an expansion to a Norfolk pumping station vital to the Lake Gaston pipeline project.
City Manager Myles E. Standish on Wednesday night asked for a delay of up to 60 days, saying his staff needed more time to talk to Norfolk.
Meanwhile, according to Norfolk City Manager James B. Oliver, Norfolk officials have been holding informal negotiations to sell water to Suffolk once the Lake Gaston pipeline is complete and Virginia Beach no longer needs his city's surplus.
``The two mayors saw each other, really not on a water-related thing, and they said: `Boy, it would be nice to work together on water,' '' Oliver said. ``But it's really been conversational so far, and so far it's really not been related to this permit.''
Oliver said Suffolk has long expressed an interest in buying some of Norfolk's surplus, but the two have not talked specifics or amounts. Once the pipeline is completed, Norfolk will be able to market the water it now sells to Virginia Beach elsewhere in the region.
Norfolk needs to expand its Western Branch Pumping Station, on Lake Smith in Suffolk, to handle the extra water that will flow from the Lake Gaston pipeline. Norfolk will process the Gaston water, although it will not receive any. Norfolk owns Lake Smith, which it has used for years as a reservoir for its water system.
Because the lake is in Suffolk, Norfolk needs that city's permission to expand the pumping station. The station will move water from the reservoir to a plant where it will be treated and shipped to customers.
Oliver said Thursday that he thinks Suffolk's deferral was based on technical concerns and was not connected to its desire for water or any effort to derail the Gaston project.
``Suffolk has not said anything that makes us think they have in mind holding up the pipeline,'' he said.
Suffolk Council member S. Chris Jones said his council delayed action because members were worried the expansion might have environmental consequences.
``This is probably one of the biggest regional projects for this area, so you want to make sure it's good for the community,'' said Jones. ``We want to make sure it doesn't have any adverse environmental impact on the community.''
Council member Curtis R. Milteer said he and others support the pipeline project, which he hopes will indirectly help Suffolk get more water.
``I believe the cities in Hampton Roads need to work together to promote a regional water system,'' said Milteer. ``We need cooperation.''
Mayor Thomas G. Underwood, the lone member to vote against the deferral, said he didn't understand his colleagues' concerns.
``I thought we should have approved it,'' he said. ``Sometimes city managers like additional time to review things with the staff.''
Norfolk and Virginia Beach officials said the deferral does not present problems for the Lake Gaston pipeline - as long as the permit is approved soon.
Oliver said Norfolk, which first requested the permit last winter, would like to award the construction contract within the next week to 10 days. The city already has had to let one bid go because of Suffolk's delays, Oliver said.
Beach Council member Louis R. Jones said he is concerned that Suffolk officials may be putting Norfolk off to gain leverage in their water negotiations.
KEYWORDS: WATER SUPPLY PLAN VIRGINIA NORTH
CAROLINA LAKE GASTON by CNB