Evening star., 1945-08-10
Potomac Basin
Plan Basedo on
IVA Offered
Proposal Would
Coordinate Existing
improvement Ideas
BY JAMES BIRCHFIELD,
Star Staff Cofrespondent,

Star Staff Correspondent.
HERSHEY, Pa, Aug. 10.-A long
range plan for the Potomac River
basin, patterned loosely after the
Tennessee Valley Authority, was
presented for consideration of the
Interstate Commerce Commission on
the Potomac River Basin here to-
days, at the commissions annual
meeting at the Hotel Hershey.
Discussion of the program was
deferred until tomorrow's session
when the plan, some delegates pre-
dict, probably will be adopted. The
delay was provided to allow time for
study by all commission members.
The plan, presented by j. w.
Lauderdale, peoples counsel for the
District of Columbia Public Utilities
Commission and a member of the
Potomac commissions Executive
Committee, proposed that a Po-
tomac Valley Authority be created
comparatively by the States in
volved, under the interstate compact
method.
Plan Considers All Problems.
Under this system, the Potomac
commission would continue to act
as the co-ordinating agency and
would decide on the Setup that
would administer any Potomac VAL
ley Authority.
Mr.. Lauderdale's plan urges that
the commission adopt a program
for the solution of the problems not
only OF pollution, but of flood con-
troll, soil conservation, reforestation,
recreation, hydro-electric power and
general economic development of
the Potomac basins water resources.
Noting that such valley authori-
ties are controversial issues, Mr..
Lauderdale said, This committee
has opposed the idea of valley au-
thoritieS, because of the danger in
volved to our present political form
OF life and to the liberty of the in
dividual. 1t believes, however, that
the IVA has done much work in
planning the resources of its basin
and that such basin-wide planning
Is needed for the other river drain
age basins of the country.
Sees Role as -ordinator,
Since this commission has been
created under compact of the States
to promote pollution abatement
within the basin," Mr.. Lauderdale
continued, 'it seems fitting that
steps should be taken by the COM
mission to demonstrate the value
which such body can have in the
basin-wide planning of resources
which affect or are affected by pol
luton, in cooperation with exist
ing Federal, State and local agencies
and in encouraging and co-ordinat-
ing the efforts of such agencies"
Mr.. Lauderdale also asked that
the Federal Government be re-
quested to make studies and sur
veys for the development of plans
Tor solving basin problems, and that
the Government be urged to con-
tinue its policy of financing con-
structlon projects that cannot rea-
sonably be constructed by the
States. through interstate commits
sions.
These projects, although Fed
orally financed, would be carried on
in cooperation with the States and
interstate agencies involved.
Mr.. Lauderdale said that in order
to demonstrate the suitability of the
compact, or cooperative method
among States for the solution of
water problems, the commission
must continue to act as a co-ordi-
mating agency in basin wide plan
ming.
Hint Of Plans Given Earlier.
A hint of the program to be de-
Veloped at the sessions here was
given earlier in statement of COM
mission officials that ANY program
of pollution abatement and control
must take into consideration the
demand upon the river for other
purposes, and these varying inter-
ests must be co-ordinated to bring
about the greatest profit to all from
the rivers resources"
Omcials pointed out that the
Potomac River Basin, having an
abundance of good farm land. many
undeveloped natural resources, and
a well-developed transportation
system, offers excellent opportunities
for expansion to the industrialist
the farmer and to the recreation
seeker.
Offlcials said it is the commissions
intention to consider carefully all
OF the factors involved, and to plan
and promote through established
State agencies that program for
pollution control and abatement
which will be an asset to the Poto-
mac basin as whole.
Also to be considered at the ses-
lslons here is a coming plan for the
basin, setting up water pollution
criteria for its various sections, and
the ratification of the interstate
pact by the Governor of Pennsyl-
vania.
The commission, established by
Congress in 1889, was approved by
Pennsylvania at the last session of
the Legislature, and a ceremony
has been planned for today, when
sthe Government will sign the pact,
The signing is expected to take place
lat the Governors Office in Harris
burg.
Defendant Told