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

DATE: TUESDAY, July 19, 1994                   TAG: 9407190059
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: SOUTH HILL                                 LENGTH: Medium

PAYNE SAYS PIPELINE WOULD BE DRAIN ON HIS REGION

``Since this project was proposed 10 years ago, there has never been consideration given to the 300,000 residents who live along the Roanoke River basin from the Blue Ridge Mountains to South Hill,'' the Nelson County Democrat told a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission hearing.

The proposed 85-mile pipeline from the Virginia-North Carolina border lake would pump up to 60 million gallons of water a day from the Roanoke River impoundment to Tidewater.

Virginia Beach says it must have the water to continue to survive and grow. The city says it has no other viable source of water. North Carolina officials, as well as Lake Gaston residents, say pumping the water from the lake will cause severe environmental problems downstream from the lake.

Virginia Beach and North Carolina have fought over the issue for more than a decade in the federal courts. Construction on portions of the pipeline already has begun.

Recently, however, the energy commission ordered a full environmental impact statement on the project. Such a study could delay further construction by months or years.

Payne wants the study to include the economic effects on the areas upstream of the lake in Virginia and North Carolina.

``This pipeline will have a critical economic effect on the development of this area by diverting our most precious resource - water,'' he said.

Payne said the Roanoke River basin is economically depressed, and the water would be given to an already prospering Virginia Beach.