
DATE: Wednesday, August 20, 1997            TAG: 9708200418

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS

DATELINE: RICHMOND                          LENGTH:   67 lines

RESERVOIR OPPONENTS ANNOYED BY BOARD'S REFUSAL TO HEAR THEM

Opponents of a proposed reservoir in King William County were frustrated Tuesday by the State Water Control Board's refusal to listen to their complaints.

The board heard a status report on the project but took no action. A decision on whether to issue a permit for construction of the 1,526-acre reservoir could be made at the board's Sept. 23 meeting.

The reservoir would serve Newport News, Hampton, Poquoson, Williamsburg and James City and York counties. Officials say it is needed to ensure a steady drinking water supply on Virginia's Peninsula.

Environmentalists fear damage to the Mattaponi River's ecology. Also, the Mattaponi Indians say the reservoir would violate a centuries-old treaty and could hurt the river's shad and herring fisheries.

Several reservoir critics wanted to address the Water Control Board but were told the board does not allow remarks on agenda matters that have gone through a public comment period. The deadline for submitting written comments on the reservoir was last month.

``We would be here for days'' if public testimony were allowed, said board chairman Hunter Craig.

The board will hear a staff summary of the written comments before voting on the permit, he said, and citizens will be allowed to discuss the summary at that time.

William Perritt of Aylett urged the board to change its policy to ``a truer democratic process.''

``We would like to be able to address you face-to-face and from the heart, as ladies and gentlemen, instead of through the edited page,'' he said.

Thomas Rubino of King and Queen County said he was still uncertain after the meeting how much latitude he would have to talk about his concerns when the summary is presented.

A permit from the Army Corps of Engineers also is required before the $130 million project can be built. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has recommended that the corps deny the permit.

``Based on information presented to us, the project did not adequately compensate for the losses it created in terms of wetlands and habitat,'' wildlife service biologist Janet Norman said Monday.

The federal Environmental Protection Agency has requested more information, including whether the reservoir would alter salt levels in the river and how the developers would make up for the loss of wetlands.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation said it was pleased with the EPA's call for more information.

``The wetland destruction alone - 438 acres - to build the reservoir project would be the single biggest authorized loss of wetlands in Virginia,'' said Joseph H. Maroon, the foundation's executive director. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

ABOUT THE RESERVOIR

Facts and figures about the proposed reservoir in King William

County:

Size - 1,526 acres.

Location - Cohoke Mill Creek, a tributary of the Pamunkey River,

with up to 75 million gallons of water a day piped in from the

Mattaponi River.

Cost - $130 million.

Localities served - Newport News, Hampton, Poquoson, Williamsburg

and James City and York counties.

Expected wetlands loss - 438 acres.

Targeted completion date: 2005.