THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 16, 1997 TAG: 9701160321
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TERRI WILLIAMS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: 37 lines
Norfolk is still waiting for an answer on a permit it needs from Suffolk to help complete the Lake Gaston Pipeline.
The Suffolk City Council deferred action on the permit for the second time Wednesday.
Norfolk has sought permission for nearly a year to expand its Western Branch Reservoir Pumping Station in Suffolk and replace a section of pipe near Kings Fork Road and Virginia Route 10.
Norfolk needs the permit to meet its contractual obligation to Virginia Beach to treat the Gaston water and transport it from the end of the pipeline in Isle of Wight County to a treatment plant in Norfolk.
The Suffolk council did not comment Wednesday when it deferred the permit for another 30 days. The council has raised environmental concerns about the permit in the past and questioned the project's impact on Suffolk residents.
The one-year time limit for council action on the request runs out next month.
``We're confident they will act favorably in February,'' Virginia Beach Deputy City Attorney William M. Macali said after the meeting.
Norfolk Utilities Director Louis R. Guy declined to comment Wednesday.
Many Suffolk citizens have applauded the council's foot-dragging, saying it is time the city finally stands up for itself in the region.
Most of the area's water supply sits in Suffolk, but is owned by Norfolk and Portsmouth. Many Suffolk residents worry that their own supplies will run out.
They also say Norfolk and Portsmouth's use of water from Suffolk has strained the city's groundwater supplies, damaging private wells.
The City Council will reconsider the issue at its Feb. 12 meeting. MEMO: Staff writer Karen Weintraub contributed to this report
KEYWORDS: LAKE GASTON PIPELINE PERMIT