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How We’ll Win! |
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For the thousands of Virginians and others outside our state who have helped us in our fight to stop the King William Reservoir, it has been more than a decade of highs and lows. Both the Army Corps of Engineers and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission denied permits for this project only to have the City of Newport News use its political clout to bully these agencies to reconsider their decisions ignoring both the law and the facts to grant the permits.
It is important to remember that not one spade of dirt has been turned in the construction of the reservoir.
There are many paths to victory over the King William Reservoir, among them are.
In 2007, the State Water Control Board could deny the City of Newport News renewal of its Virginia Water Protection (VWP) permit. This renewal process will be the central focus of Alliance efforts to stop the King William Reservoir proposal.
Additionally, the Alliance together with the Sierra Club and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation are represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center in a law suit in federal court challenging the Army Corps of Engineers permit issued in November 2005. It is not clear how long it may take this litigation to proceed, but a victory in this case could compel the Corps to undertake further studies of the impact of this reservoir on the river and on the environment.
The Mattaponi Indian Tribe is pursuing independent litigation asserting the tribe’s rights under a treaty that dates back to 1677.
At some point, it is also possible that the political leadership in Newport News and the Peninsula may change or change their minds as the public learns the true cost of a project that is not even needed. Those costs can be measured in many ways: dollars- $29 million spent so far and at least another $250 million needed to complete the project. Harm to the Mattaponi River, the loss of wetlands, and harm to the people who live on the river or in the Cohoke Creek valley.
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In 2007, we have our best chance to defeat the reservoir once and for all. With your support, together we can do it! |
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