THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 14, 1995 TAG: 9507140405
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KAREN WEINTRAUB, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 41 lines
Lake Gaston pipeline opponents in Southside Virginia joined North Carolina on Thursday in renewed efforts to derail the project.
The Roanoke River Basin Association, a group of business owners and residents in south-central Virginia, said in legal papers that it agrees with North Carolina's argument that the pipeline is not needed.
The group also says Virginia Beach needs North Carolina's permission to build the project and that the Beach will not be able to meet its promises to protect striped bass during spawning season.
The 10-page motion was filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the final federal agency that must review the project. The commission is expected to issue a permit for the pipeline by the end of the month.
North Carolina and the basin association are trying to postpone the release of that permit until the commission does a more extensive review of the need for the pipeline.
North Carolina and the association argue that there is enough water in South Hampton Roads to meet most or all of Virginia Beach and Chesapeake's water needs through the year 2030. The pipeline would provide far more water than those two cities, partners in the project, could use, the motion says.
Opponents want the federal commission to hold a hearing before issuing a permit, to make South Hampton Roads officials swear on the stand to the need for water in their region.
The motion is the first legal attack on the pipeline since settlement negotiations fell apart. North Carolina and Virginia Beach had worked for months to end their 12 1/2-year battle, but Virginia politics and a decision by North Carolina Gov. James B. Hunt Jr.ended their efforts last week.
KEYWORDS: LAKE GASTON PIPELINE by CNB