Evening star., 1955-09-21

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said the agency he heads M
from the Potomac before the
plant can operate.
THE Potomac is Maryland's
river, from the Maryland shore
to the low water mark on the
Virginia side" he declared.
He said Maryland law pre-
scribes that no one may use OF
appropriate" water from the Po-
tomac. except for domestic OF
farm use, without permission
from the Water Resources Com
mission.
No permit has ever been issued
to a power company. he said.
Reese Seeks Meeting
DR.. Singewald's disclosure was
one of several developments in
the growing controversy over
Pepco's prosposed plant. Here
were some others:
| /. Montgomery County Man.
ager M. L. Reese was trying today
Ito arrange a meeting with Pepcc
officials after Donald E. Gin
gerry of the Maryland National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission yesterday urged the
Montgomery Council ito dc
everything possible to get Pepco
Ito build on our side Of the river
iso that Montgomery could col
lect an estimated $750,000 a year
lin taxes from 1t.
| 2. officials of the Army Corps
and Maryland, Virginia and the
District were to meet today al
the Office of the Washington
District Engineer to compare
notes on the questions raised by
the Pepco plant proposal.
3. The District Public Utilities
Commission has decided to re-
lfrain even from setting a hear
ling date on Pepco's pending
application for permission tc
build the plant. which will serve
the Nations Capital as well as
Montgomery County.
| 4. Senator Morse, Democrat, o1
Oregon, called for a Senate in
Ivestigation of Pepco's plans tc
build q plant in Loudour
County.
| S. District Health Director
Daniel Seckinger warned. in q
radio interview, that Pepco'!
Iplan to use the Potomac watel
Ito cool its condensors in the pro-
Iposed plant would raise tn,
Temperature of the water ane
Thereby increase pollution.
/ Claim Dates to 1785
/ Maryland's Ownership" of the
Potomac dates back to 1785
when the lines between Mary.
land and Virginia were set or
the south shore of the Potomac
latter years of wrangling between
the two States over their borders
| DR.. Singewald said the power
plants water intake line would
have to cross a few inches OF
few feet" of Maryland territory
the area between the waters
edge and the State border de-
termined by geologists in 1928
when a line was run from Har-
pers Ferry to Chesapeake Bay.
| Robert w. Wilson, a vice presi-
dent Of Pepco. said today the
power firm intends to file an
application with the Maryland
agency for a water use permit
He said he is confident the COM
pany can meet Maryland re-
quirements. ..
Pepco officials will meet in
formally tomorrow with officials
of the Maryland agency to dis
cuss the form of the applications.
Or. Singewald said a public hear
ling will be held before any use
permit is granted. He added the
Maryland commissions can either
deny or modify Pepco's request.
One Of Several Hurdles
The Maryland hurdle is one
of several Pepco must clear be-
fore building its projected $40
million plant in Loudoun Coun-
Ity, Va, opposite Montgomery
County. Md.
A hearing before the Virginia
State Corporation Commission
on Pepco's plans, scheduled for
yesterday, was Cancelled because
of hurricane lone.
Other applications have been
Ior will be directed to the Army
Engineers. the Virginia Water
Control Board and the District
lof Columbia Public Utilities
Commission.
Clearance for the project was
won last week from the Loudoun
County Board of zoning Appeals,
whose chairman pointed out that
three or four other agencies
could deny Pepco permission to
build the plant.
FPC Not Involved
The Federal Power Commis-
sion is not involved in the issue,
although transmission lines will
GROSS state borders. because it
Irnnsidorc this fart-it0y-v an 0i,n