Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, December 10, 1994 TAG: 9412120048
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CATHRYN McCUE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Officials also said they will improve communications with the public to regain its trust, which has crumbled since the Jefferson National Forest was drawn into the bitter fight between Apco and power-line foes.
"It's the most complex [project] I've heard of in the Forest Service," said Jefferson Supervisor Joy Berg, a 20-year agency veteran.
For three days this week, Berg met with representatives of the National Park Service, the Army Corps of Engineers and the forest's Atlanta regional office. The corps and Park Service oversee the New River and the Appalachian Trail, respectively, both of which lie in the power line's path.
Work on the report began in 1991 to determine how the proposed 765,000-volt line would affect water quality, endangered species, houses and natural and cultural resources along its 115-mile route from West Virginia to Cloverdale. The Jefferson twice has delayed the report in the past couple of years. The latest due date was to be Feb.28.
As to when the draft will be issued, Berg said: "I'd hate to venture a guess right now."
It was bad, though not unexpected, news for Apco.
"That, to me, doesn't really surprise me that much," said Apco Vice President Charles Simmons.
With each delay, Apco maintains, the potential for power failures increases. Earlier this week, the State Corporation Commission decided not to rule on the need separately from the route, a decision which Simmons said the utility may ask the commission to review.
And the cost keeps rising.
"It's getting to the point I almost hate to look," Simmons said.
As of the end of October, Apco has paid $2.2 million to the forest and a hired consultant to prepare the environmental-impact statement, required by federal law.
Opponents, meanwhile, reacted with reserved optimism to the delay.
"It was going to be a bad draft, there's no question," said Richard Ettelson. "I want them to do a good job."
He was among 30 or so opponents who met with forest officials last month to complain about the forest's work on the impact statement - that it missed items such as cemeteries and public springs in developing alternative routes. Their overriding concern, however, was that they were not fully engaged in the process.
Jim Loesel, a forest watchdog and power-line opponent, said the private meetings among the government officials this week show that the forest knows it has a problem.
But, he added, "If you are planning for public involvement, why would you not have members of the public there to help work out the plan?"
Loesel also questioned why the Forest Service has not withdrawn its objection to a lawsuit filed by opponents in Montgomery and Giles counties, claiming they'd been left out of the initial scoping process. That suit is scheduled to be heard next Friday in U.S. District Court in Roanoke.
Gloria Manning, deputy regional forester who was in Roanoke this week, stressed that people who are involved in the process have the right to appeal the forest's final decision, even if they joined in after the formal "scoping" process back in 1992.
"They just indicate an interest, and they have standing. As simple as writing a letter ... attend a meeting," she said.
Manning said her presence at last month's citizens' meeting, and again this week, demonstrates to the public the forest's good faith.
"We're just stewards of their land, so whatever we do the success we have depends on their belief that we're running a fair process," Manning said.
Berg said the forest will continue taking information up to the end of the comment period on the draft impact statement. The Jefferson will double the usual 45 days for public comment after the draft is issued.
Another strategy the forest thinks might improve its image is to spend more time on the phone with people or visit them to discuss their concerns or new information, rather than just send letters, Berg said. The forest also may assign another staff person to the project, she said.
by CNB