Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 24, 1994 TAG: 9408240047
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-16 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By BRIAN KELLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
After five hours of meeting Monday night on a host of other subjects - some major, some picayune, almost all time-consuming - board members decided it was simply too late at night to debate such a contentious issue.
"We've been accused of making resolutions that are important for this county at 12 midnight," board Chairman Larry Linkous said at 12:10 a.m. Linkous wanted to hold the debate when everyone was more alert.
After putting off the power-line issue until Sept. 12, the board stayed in closed-door session until 12:40 a.m., discussing prospects for a planned industrial park.
Earlier Monday night, the supervisors heard from eight residents opposed to the alternative routes that pass through the county, and had a chance to ask questions of an Apco vice president and U.S. Forest Service official.
As part of a study of the environmental impact on the Jefferson National Forest of Apco's preferred route for a 765,000-volt transmission line, the Forest Service and two other federal agencies have proposed a series of alternative routes that pass in or near Montgomery, Giles, Bland and Pulaski counties. (The preferred route crosses 12 miles of the forest; Apco is studying the environmental impact of the entire route.)
Supervisor Jim Moore, who represents the Mount Tabor area where many power-line opponents live, introduced two draft resolutions to the board.
The first resolution supports the Informed Citizens Action Network's call for the Forest Service to halt its work on the impact study and reopen an official public comment period known as the "scoping process."
The second backs Apco's preferred corridor to the north.
Members of ICAN and other anti-power line groups sued the Forest Service and other federal agencies on Friday, seeking a halt to the environmental impact study. They claim the government has denied New River Valley residents the same due process given to people in Apco's preferred corridor.
The Montgomery supervisors, though, seemed cool to endorsing ICAN's effort. "Anybody chafing at the bit to support such a resolution?" Moore asked his six colleagues.
About half a minute later, Moore conceded the obvious: "The silence is overwhelming."
Moore did garner tentative support from Linkous and Supervisor Joe Gorman for the second resolution, which backs Apco's favored corridor through Craig, Roanoke and Botetourt counties en route from Wyoming, W.Va., to Cloverdale.
The boards of supervisors in Giles, Pulaski and Bland counties all recently have taken stands or made public comments on the power-line issue. The Pulaski board wants the line speeded up rather than delayed and sees it as necessary for economic development. The Giles board supports Apco's preferred route but agreed to work with Apco should an alternative through the county be necessary. That resolution is awaiting approval from the independent towns in Giles. The Bland supervisors back the opponents' call for a halt to the impact study.
Memo: ***CORRECTION***