ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, August 4, 1996 TAG: 9608050013
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: Guest Column
SOURCE: MARK HILEMAN
On June 13, American Electric Power placed a full-page ad in the New River Current notifying residents of Giles and Montgomery counties that greater consideration was being given to an alternative 765,000-volt power line route through these counties.
This was not a surprise to residents in Giles County who have been watching these developments carefully. While some Montgomery County residents are also staying informed, there are still many people who were surprised by the ad.
Many residents have been unaware that seven of the 13 routes studied by the U.S. Forest Service come through Montgomery County. Four of these routes impact a significant amount of private land in Montgomery County, up to 22 miles in length.
The Forest Service made several significant changes in the routes being developed through Montgomery County in April 1995, less than three months before the cutoff for written comments to be included in its draft environmental impact statement.
One of the changes brought a power-line corridor closer to the Preston Forest area and another moved the direction of a power-line corridor to run lengthwise through the Mount Tabor/Catawba Valley. While there was written and vocal opposition to these changes, many individuals were unconcerned because they believed there was no way anyone would allow this type of negative impact to homeowners of this beautiful area.
If this power line is built (whether it crosses any federal land or not), the chance of its coming through miles of Montgomery County is great. It will happen not because it is environmentally better to do so, but because not as much information has been gathered by the Forest Service on Montgomery County partially due to residents not having the same amount of time as the initial study areas to understand the significant issues in order to respond appropriately.
For example, upon reviewing the draft environmental impact statement I noticed that many houses built since 1991 (including mine and many others along Mount Tabor Road) are not listed on their map of potential homes being impacted.
It is our responsibility now to review these maps and recorded information to add data that is missing. It is important for everyone to become informed, and the best way to do this is to attend the public meeting the Forest Service is holding regarding the power-line corridors at the Blacksburg High School on Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. (In addition, the Forest Service is holding another public meeting from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Giles County High School outside Pearisburg.)
Only with Montgomery County residents' input will the Forest Service gather accurate facts on private lands to support their final environmental impact statement.
Mark Hileman of Blacksburg is a member of the Informed Citizens Action Network, a group that formed to raise awareness about the power line and Interstate 73 issues in Montgomery County.
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