DATE: Tuesday, May 6, 1997                  TAG: 9705060441

SECTION: BUSINESS                PAGE: D1   EDITION: FINAL 

DATELINE: VIRGINIA                          LENGTH:   21 lines

DUBIOUS HONOR

Virginia Power's Mount Storm power plant in West Virginia was recently listed as one of the Southest's heaviest polluters, but the power company defends the plant's efforts to lower its emissions, the Associated Press reported.

A study published by the Southern Environmental Law Center put the plant on its ``Dirty Dozen'' list, a roster of the region's 12 most polluting power plants.

Virginia Power said the plant lowered its emissions in 1994 and 1995 - when the ratings were performed - while other plants were increasing theirs.

The power company said it never has consistently met the state's current emissions limits and the state's Department of Environmental Protection has never cited or fined the company for the problem.

Mount Storm provides electricity to Virginia and North Carolina.

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