Evening star., 1955-09-21

t0cptE tI1lcItt " GC0tOSy, ~
said the agency he heads MI
from the Potomac before the
plant can operate. >
"The Potomac is Maryland's
river. from the Maryland shore
Ito the low water mark on the
Virginia side" he declared.
He said Maryland law pre-
scribes that no one may "use or
appropriate" water from the Po-
ltomac. except for domestic or
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
lone Of several Developments In
the growing controversy over
Pepco's prosposed plant. Here
were some others:
/. Montgomery County Man.
lager NJ. L. Reese was trying today
Ito arrange a meeting with Pepco
officials after Donald E. Gin
Igery Of the Maryland National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission yesterday urged the
Montgomery Council ito dc
Everything possible to get Pepcc
Ito build on our side Of the river
so that Montgomery could col.
Ilect an estimated $3.50, 900 year
in taxes from it.
2. Ofdcials 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.
i 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 Il
build the plant, which will serve
the Nations Capital as well a.
Montgomery County.
j 4. Senator Morse, Democrat, o.
! Oregon, called for a Senate in.
! Ivestigation Of Pepco's plans t.
: build q plant in Loudoui
!. County.
S. District Health Directol
Daniel Seckinger warned. in {
eIradio interview, that Pepco'
slplan to use the Potomac waite
to cool its condensors in the pro
elposed plant would raise tn
: Temperature Of the. water an,
Thereby increase pollution.
Claim Dates to 17S5
: Maryland's Ownership" Of tn
5 Potomac dates back to 1785
! when the lines between Mary
land and Virginia were set OF
the south shore of the Potomac
after years of wrangling between
the two States over their borders
DR.. Singewald said the power
plants water intake line woulc
have to cross a "few inches OF
few feet" of Maryland territory
the area between the waters
ledge and the State border de-
'Itermined by geologists In 1925
when a line was run from Har-
'lpers Ferry to Chesapeake Bay.
Robert w. Wilson, a vice presi.
dent of Pepco. said today the
power firm intends to file ar
application with the Maryland
agency for a water use permit
He said he is confident the com.
Ipany can meet Maryland re.
|quirementS.
/ Pepco officials will meet in
formally tomorrow with officials
Iof the Maryland agency to dis
Icuss the form Of the applications
Or. Singewald said q public hear.
ing viii be held before any use
permit 10 granted. He added the
Maryland commissions can either
deny or modify Pepco's request
One of Several Hurdles
The Maryland hurdle is one
Iof several Pepco must clear be-
fore building its projected SIC
million plant in Loudoun Coun-
|ty, Va, opposite Montgomery
County. Md.
A hearing before the Virginia
Estate Corporation Commission
on Pepco's plans. scheduled fol
yesterday. was Cancelled because
'lof hurricane lone.
1 Other applications have beer
|or viii 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
cross state borders, because it
considers this territory an "in-
tegrated" area where it does not
exercise its authority.
Mr.. Gingery. in his appear
ance before the MONTGOMERY