Note: Corps comments extended until May 26th to:
Robert.H.Reardon@nad01.usace.army.mil
State comments due to DEQ by March 31st to:
Joe Hassell
Dept. Environmental Quality
Box 10009
Richmond, VA 23240
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From: Sharon Saari <ideacen@ns.gemlink.com>
The Mattaponi Tribe in Virginia is about to lose its rights to clean water
and fishery, to be taken by the Newport News Waterworks. We could use your
help on your net. The Army Corps needs to be notified to extend comment
period on the EIS by March 11th, otherwise comments close on March 26th.
Indian rights date to 1677 and both State and Federal government are
ignoring it, about to approve this King William Reservoir. Ask membership
to EMail:
Robert.H.Reardon@nad01.usace.army.mil
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To: MEMBERS OF THE ALLIANCE AND OTHER FRIENDS OF THE MATTAPONI
WE NEED COMMENTS TO THE CORPS BY MARCH 26TH ON FINAL
ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT STATEMENT - King William Reservoir
VIA EMAIL TO Robert.H.Reardon@nad0l.usace.army.mil
On January 24th, the Army Corps of Engineers released the Final EIS for
the Regional Raw Water Study Group and a revised joint application for a
state / federal permit for the proposed Newport News Waterworks King
William Reservoir. The proposed project is to build a reservoir (1,526
acres) in King William County, pumping water from the Mattaponi over to
that man-made lake on the Cohoke, to provide water for Hampton, Newport
News, and Williamsburg. The reservoir would be combined with several
other smaller plans, including the desalination and freshwater ground
water development, and water use restrictions. The alternatives include
four designs for a King William Reservoir, or a Ware Creek Reservoir, or
a Black Creek Reservoir. Newport News would still prefer a larger
reservoir, the 2,222-acre lake in King William County they had asked for
in their earlier application.
The Alliance for the Mattaponi and other groups have asked for more time
to review this huge multi-volume report. There is no need to rush into
the Record of Decision, since a water shortage is not expected until
2010!
Our main concern is the Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), and State Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) have
united to support the King William-IV plan, one hastily designed this
year after the Draft EIS was released and reviewed. KWR-IV still
presents some significant negative environmental impacts, and it does
NOT SOLVE the regional water needs. The proposal is touted as a regional
plan, yet only 3 jurisdictions voted for it and 8 remain opposed.
The main legal and environmental issues yet to be resolved include the
following:
- More than 500 acres of wetlands will be taken or flooded
- Four species of rare, endangered or threatened wildlife would be
negatively affected
- More than 100 historic and archaeological sites would be flooded,
and 55 of these sites are potentially significant.... could be
eligible for
National Register of Historic Sites
- More than 1600 acres of upland habitat would be lost forever
- Water quality may be affected by dioxin from the old landfill or
increased phosphorus
- Anadromous spawning fish and a hatchery could suffer
- The Mattaponi Tribal rights dating to 1677 are being ignored
There will not be a water shortage immediately , not for more than a
decade, so why the rush to issue a final decision? Demands are based upon
what the local Peninsula Counties desire for growth, not upon the regional
or state predictions. We are being asked to comment by March 26th. Yet,
we do not have results of the EPA water tests for dioxin, the results of
the habitat analysis (HEP), the results of any field work Phase II on the
archaeological sites, a consultation with the Fish and Wildlife Service,
or a final Mitigation Plan. Why should such an important decision be made
immediately? The Mattaponi is Virginia Peninsula's last clean pristine
water supply. Why sell it to the urban high bidders?
Copies of the EIS are available for review at the local libraries and
county administrators offices . If there are any left, you may request a
single copy of the EIS or at least the summary from Pam Painter at (757)
441-7654.
Please send written comments to:
Ms. Painter
Army Corps of Engineers
803 Front Street
Norfolk, VA 23510
Questions to the State and carbon copies should go to Tony Watkinson at
the Virginia Marine Resources Commission in Newport News and Joseph
Hassell at Department of Environmental Quality in Richmond. The Sierra
Club Foundation is continually seeking contributions to help with
technical and legal reviews of these reports. These should be sent to:
Tyla Matteson
3808 Roadview,
Hampton, 23669. Thanks for your support!