Evening star., 1948-05-06
Peril 10 Airport
Delays Pepco
Work Permit
High Stacks at Plant
In Alexandria to
Be Investigated
By W. n. Shippen, Jr.
Aviotion Editor Of The Stor

- w. ~. S"tPPShI -.
Aviotion Editor Of The Stor
Permits to dig water conduits for
the $2l 100000 power plant under
construction at Alexandria are being
withheld by Federal agencies, it was
learned today, until it can be de-
termined If the high stacks of the
completed plant will interfere with
National Airports most vital ap-
proach.
Harry T. Thompson. assistant
of National Capital
Parks, today confirmed reports that
his agency had held up the permits
and was in agreement with the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning
Commission to delay action until the
interests of the Civil Aeronautics
Administration can be satisfied.
Technical advisers of the CAA.
which administers the big airport.
nave insisted since 1912, they say.
that erection of the plant and its
stacks with a proposed altitude of
at least 1913 feet will impair the fu-
ture of the terminal by adding a
hazard to the vital southern ap-
proach for aircraft making instru-
ment landings in bad weather.
Ramspeck Assails Plan.
Meanwhile. Robert Ramspeck,
executive vice president of the Air
Transport Association, issued
statement today in which he de-
clared that construction of the
plant at the location south of Ma
tlonal Alrport'S main north-south
runway destroys to a large extent
the $35,000,000 investment which the
Federal Government has put into
this airport"
Spokesmen for the Potomac Elec-
trio Power Co. insist, however, that
the approach zone was Widened after
the company and its subsidiary, the
Braddock Light g. Power Co., were
committed to go ahead with the
costly project on the banks of the
Potomac 5000 feet south of the
southern edge of the airport. The
plant. whose construction is pro-
crossing rapidly, is on the western
edge of the approach zone which
fans out from the main runway.
Mr.. Thompson explained that the
power company had requested the
Interior Department several months
ago to authorize the construction of
conduits beneath the surface of the
Potomac for the intake and dis
charge of water required by the
plant. Eventual water consumption,
Pepco engineers said, will be almost
100000 gallons a minute.
CAA Priority Supported.
The Federal Government owns
the bottom of the Potomac River
In this area, and the Interior De-
partment has been designated as
the controlling agency. Mr.. Thomp-
son said he and other park officials
felt that the CAA's interest in the
vicinity of the airport should have
priority in view of the large Fed
eral installation it administers.
For this reason, he said, authori-
zation for the conduits is being
held up until the point at issue
can be settled.
Long-range plans of the park
service, Mr.. Thompson said, include
a fill in the Potomac opposite the
power site for construction of
shore-line section of Mount Vernon
memorial boulevard.
A spokesman for Pepco said TODAY
the delay in receiving a permit from
the National Capital Park Service
to construct water intakes was not
holding up essential construction
work at this time. 1t was pointed
out that the application had not
been approved, but this did not
imply an eventual rejection of the
application.
Airlines Register Opposition.
Speaking for the certificated air.
lines which are members of the Air
Transport Association, Mr.. Rams
peck declared:
In our opinion if the plant is con-
structed according to the plans we
are advised will be used, including
smokestacks of nearly 200 feet, the
Washington National Airport will
never be used in all-Weather f1yinp
such as is contemplated at all ma jor
airportS
This means that If Washington is
to attain its place as one of the most
important airports, some new site
would have to be developed with an
enormous outlay of funds and un-
necessary expense.
Construction of the plant at the
location south of the main north
south runway destroys to a large
extent. the s35,OOO,OOO investment
which the Federal Government has
put into this airport.
Washington National Airport.
situated as 1t is in the Nations Capi-
tai, is in many respects a model for
other cities of the country and it is
unfortunate to have its usefulness
destroyed.
Defense Importance Stressed.
The Importance of the airport in
the national defense picture cannot
be overlooked and any leSsening of
its usefulness weakens not only
Washington's place in world air
commerce, but also in the national
defense program"
Recommendations on the contro-
yersial issue were forwarded yes
terday to the Air Co-ordinating
Committee by the policy-making
groups Air Space Subcommittee.
The subcommittee is composed of
air navigation experts and advisers
OF the CAA, Air Force, Navy and
other Federal departments.
Pending action by the Air Co.
ordinating Committee, Fred B. Lee,
acting civil aeronautics administra-
tor, refused to comment on the
case. President Truman recently
appointed Delos w. Rented to be
CAA administrator, but he has not
taken Office
The appointment has been ap-
proved by Senate committee and
probably will be confirmed soon by
the Senate.
The technical subcommittee did
mt mako y,l1hl;c &c racorornanx,..;.