|
|
|
Updated: 5:12 PM May 5, 2008
Local Groups Take D.O.E. To Task Over Power Lines
A group of local and national environmental groups are suing the federal government to keep the power line process on the state level.
Posted: 10:58 PM May 1, 2008Reporter: Sam Brock Email Address: sam@tv3winchester.com |
|
1 Comments 
The federal government should have no say in determining whether Dominion and Allegheny Power can erect power lines in Virginia and other states across the country.
At least that's the opinion of six regional and national environmental groups.
They're suing the federal government over the creation of 'National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors.'
The NIETC designation, which covers large patches of Virginia, gives utilities a chance to appeal a state rejection to a higher power.
The plaintiffs in the suit include the Southern Environmental Law Center, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Piedmont Environmental Council.
The groups allege the creation of the national corridors violates the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act.
P.E.C. spokesman Bob Lazaro thinks the stakes are too high not to act.
"70 million acres are impacted," noted Lazaro. "Nearly 50 million people are impacted by this corridor designation. And what that does is allow the federal government to usurp local planning processes when it comes to siting high-voltage transmission lines."
The action follows another law suit filed earlier this year on behalf of the state of Virginia.
Latest Comments
Two points I'd like to make: Part of what many of us want protected are historic sites and battlefields. On those battlefields Americans died, they died as a result of a war that was partly, if not mostly, fought for reasons exactly like what we are facing here. That is Federal contol over what should be state issues. Secondly, it is obvious that big corporations such as Dominion and Allegheny have pushed this. I find it comical that most corporations and executives whine about government interference and preach limited government action and control....until now. Yes, now that the state may turn them down on their needless project they want big government to come in and fix it for them. What a joke.
| AP National Video |
|
|
