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

DATE: SUNDAY, May 9, 1993                   TAG: 9305100291
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: F2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

CORPORATE GREED, NOT PUBLIC NEED

CONFLICT OF INTEREST continues to be an issue that the Jefferson National Forest would prefer to ignore in its consideration of Appalachian Power Co.'s proposed high-voltage transmission line.

Woodward-Clyde Consultants were hired by the Jefferson National Forest, on an Apco referral, to help prepare an environmental-impact statement for the project. Their work will certainly influence the outcome. The national forest considered including private profits as a "significant issue" to be studied in the impact statement. After extensive consultation with Woodward-Clyde, it was decided that this was an "insignificant issue" and wouldn't be investigated.

Jefferson National Forest plans on charging an annual fee for each mile of line, without taking into consideration any of the private profits that American Electric Power shareholders will stand to gain over the next 50 years from receiving the forest's approval.

This annual fee will be assessed at $20 per acre for the right-of-way. Jefferson National Forest has stated that Apco's line may cross up to 12 miles of federal land. This will come to about $7,000 a year, and that is a cheap price to pay for compromising the visual quality, wildlife habitat, timber and recreational resources of our public lands.

Private profits gained by this sweetheart deal are a public issue. Corporate greed shouldn't be mistaken for public need.

Apco has been allowed access to influence the outcome of this project that is being denied to the public. RICHARD ETTELSON WAITEVILLE, W.VA.

by CNB