ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, April 13, 1997 TAG: 9704140090
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
A statewide environmental group is urging Attorney General Jim Gilmore to decide whether the proposed King William Reservoir would violate two 17th century treaties with the Mattaponi Indians.
The Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club believes that it does and says Gilmore is taking too long to make a decision. Gilmore plans to leave office June 11 to campaign for governor, and the club fears the transition to a new attorney general would delay the decision further.
``It is essential that you rule on this issue before leaving office,'' the chapter's chairman, James Wright, wrote in a letter to Gilmore dated Thursday.
The Attorney General's office will respond to the Mattaponi within the next two weeks, spokesman Don Harrison said Friday.
``This thing is still under review. It is not going to be much longer, I can tell you that. It's in the final stages,'' Harrison said.
The Mattaponi sent letters to Gilmore in January and February, claiming that construction of the reservoir would violate treaties that require the state to protect their borders and look out for their interests.
-THE (NEWPORT NEWS) DAILY PRESS
LENGTH: Short : 31 linesby CNB