Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 13, 1994 TAG: 9407220066
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CATHRYN McCUE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NEW CASTLE LENGTH: Medium
Somewhere in there was her house in Sinking Creek Valley, the home that has been in her family for seven generations.
Appalachian Power Co. wants to build a giant transmission line, and the company's chosen route would run through her property.
But the Jefferson National Forest has come up with some different routes as part of its environmental impact statement work on the proposed 765,000-volt line.
``Anything but this one,'' Farrier said, pointing at the black line marking Apco's route across her valley.
About 250 people attended the first of four meetings schedule for this week hosted by the Forest Service.
Among them were top Apco officials, who, like the rest of the public, took their first gander at the detailed maps showing various resources and the federal government's dozen or so alternatives.
The utility has said recently that it is sticking to its preferred route, 115 miles from Wyoming, W.Va., to Cloverdale, and to the necessity for building the line to provide reliable energy in the future.
``It would be nice to be able to do it in perhaps a less controversial way,'' said Charles Simmons, vice president for construction and maintenance.
The majority of people at Tuesday's meeting appeared to be opposed to the line. And most appeared to be less than happy with the Forest Service's handling of the process.
``We're [kneeling] on a floor in the gymnasium looking at a map. Do you think the federal government should be treating us like this?'' asked Ellen Comeman.
``It's a sham,'' said Chris Swan. ``You're talking 30 days, and you've had 2 1/2 years coming up with this.''
Forest officials said citizens should try to comment on the alternative routes within the next 30 days, although they would accept comments throughout the process. The draft impact statement is due Feb. 28, after which there will be a formal 45-day comment period.
Bill Wolf, a New Castle resident, blasted the forest agency for ignoring acid rain's effect on the forest from the utility's burning more coal as it increases energy production.
Swan, Wolf and others also repeated arguments used by opponents in the four-year battle, that Apco should address the growing demand of its customers by vigorous energy-conservation measures.
Frank Bergmann, project coordinator for the Jefferson National Forest, stressed in his opening presentation that the two states have ``exclusive responsibility'' to determine the need for the line. Neither Virginia nor West Virginia has ruled on the line.
Marc Lawlor, project leader for the private consulting firm doing much of the work on the environmental impact statement, said the significant issues - such as water resources, views, health affects and so on - were ranked and measured in an elaborate process that resulted in the 300 miles of alternative routes.
Field workers have walked the 15 miles or so of federal land of Apco's preferred route to identify threatened and endangered species and other resources. In the next few months, they will walk narrowed corridors of the Forest Service's alternatives, he said.
The consultant, Woodward-Clyde Consultants, of New Jersey, also will come up with a computer simulation of the line through the alternatives.
Another meeting is scheduled for tonight at 7 p.m. in Narrows.
by CNB