By Jon Stevens, Staff writer

jstevens@observer-reporter.com

CARMICHAELS - A group of homeowners whose properties sit in or near Allegheny Power's proposed path for a high-voltage power line through Greene and Washington counties, peppered a group of lawyers with questions Monday, hoping to hear of a legal remedy that might stop construction of the line.

About 50 people showed up at the Carmichaels fire hall, first to listen to a Power Point presentation that highlighted what impact the line might have, plus what residents can do before the state Public Utility Commission and on the federal side with respect to the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC).

But the group primarily wanted to hear what Richard DiSalle, a former Washington County Common Pleas Court and state appellate court judge, had to say.

DiSalle, a partner at Rose, Schmidt, Hasley and DiSalle, was accompanied to the meeting by Pittsburgh attorney David Fasulo, and three Greene County attorneys, David Pollock, Kelly Stepp and David Russo.

"Right now, we are in the research and exploration phase," DiSalle said, referring to the examination of property rights-of-way that were ostensibly signed over to West Penn Power about 20 years ago.

"We are looking at all the mechanisms where we can help these people out," DiSalle said. "We are advising the homeowners to provide us with as much information to see if these rights-of-way are legal and binding," he said.

DiSalle expects if there is a legal fight, it probably will be fought on three fronts - before the PUC, before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and in front of either a Greene or Washington county judge.

He made it clear neither he nor the other lawyers has decided what approach to take, but he did say one of the first things that should be done is to engage experts to look at the project. "And that could be quite expensive," he said.

But DiSalle said he and his "legal team" are doing their work on a reduced-fee basis, some of which is pro bono.

From what is now known, the power line will run 240 miles. One segment will stretch about 37 miles from the proposed Prexy substation in North Strabane Township, Washington County, to a new 502 Junction substation near Mt. Morris, Greene County.

The other, longer segment will take the line east across West Virginia to northern Virginia.

The possible major impacts of this line addressed at the Monday meeting included:

n Higher electric rates

n More air pollution from carbon dioxide and mercury

n Adverse health effects, including childhood leukemia

n Security risks

n Wasted energy

n Reduction of property values

Many of those who attended the meeting at the fire hall are planning to attend a public meeting today in Allegheny County on the Department of Energy's proposed National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor.

The public meeting is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. and conclude at 7 p.m.

Residents from Greene and Washington counties are scheduled to offer testimony.

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