The following resolutions were submitted for the hearing record by John T. McDonough, probate-juvenile judge of Washington County, Minn.: UNANIMOUS SUPPORT Whereas surveys show that over 90 percent of all residents and property owners in Washington County wholeheartedly support the location of the NSP plant on the St. Croix River in Oak Park Heights; And whereas the people who must bear the burden of taxes in the area and whose futures are linked with the economic progress of the area, know that the advantages of the NSP plant will far outweigh any possible disadvantages, and that the drawbacks cited by the opponents are either greatly exaggerated or completely without foundation; And whereas the location of the NSP plant in the St. Croix Valley holds the promise of a bright future for the area in which we can begin to realize our potential for industrial development to complement our natural and recreational resources; And whereas we who live and pay taxes in the valley have the right to determine our own future course, and reject attempts by outsiders and people who do not pay taxes in the area to divide us and tell us that we cannot have industrial development: Be it therefore Resolved, That we, along with the great majority of other Washington County residents, reaffirm our support of the NSP plant location in Oak Park Heights and that we ask other persons and agencies that have become involved in this matter to respect our rights and priorities as residents of the affected area. TO EXPEDITE HEARINGS Whereas NSP obtained the property for its steamplant in Oak Park Heights more than 20 years ago; and Whereas NSP publicly announced plans for construction of its steamplant on the St. Croix River in May 1964; and Whereas the local governing bodies gave their hearty approval to the construction of this plant; and Whereas NSP has applied to the Minnesota Water Pollution Control Commission and to the Minnesota Department of Conservation for necessary permits to construct the plant; and Whereas hearings have been requested to be held in November 1964; and Whereas it is absolutely necessary that major construction of this plant begin on the plant site early in the spring of 1965 so that the plant can be completed in 1968: Be it therefore Resolved, That we respectfully urge the Minnesota Water Pollution Control Commission and the Minnesota Department of Conservation to expedite these hearings and studies concerning NSP's applications and make their findings at the earliest possible date so that NSP can maintain its construction schedule for the benefit of all of its customers. PARK Whereas the lower St. Croix Valley has had commerce and industry since the fur trading and logging days, and Whereas commercial and industrial activities have been developed and carrier on in the valley in complete harmony with our recreational resources and have contributed to the economy of the valley, and Whereas the apparent basic purpose of those opposing the NSP plant in Oak Park Heights is to set aside the entire valley as a recreational area or park solely for pleasure purposes thereby restricting industrial development, commercial navigation, and certain types of land ownership, and Whereas the establishment of such a park or recreational area would require the public acquisition of large tracts of land along the river and the ac quisition of other areas for public access to the river across private lands, and Whereas the establishment of a park would raise the question as to whether or not existent commercial and industrial enterprises would be allowed to remain in the area : Be it therefore Resolved, That we are opposed to the establishment of a park or recreational area that would do away with present and future industrial development in the valley. The three foregoing resolutions have been adopted by the following Washington County, Minn., communities, boards, and organizations: The village of Bayport, the Washington County Farm Bureau Association, and the Stillwater Planning and Zoning Commission also passed resolutions in favor of the plant's construction at the Oak Park Heights site. STILLWATER GAZETTE, Stillwater, Minn., December 15, 1964. Re Stillwater subcommittee hearings, December 10 and 11, 1964, Stillwater, Minn. AIR AND WATER POLLUTION SUBCOMMITTEE, U.S. Senate (Attention of chairman, Senator Edmund S. Muskie). DEAR SIR: As a matter of record, I would like to testify as an independent witness regarding the testimony given at a recent subcommittee hearing in Stillwater, December 10 and 11, in which witnesses, pro and con, gave their reactions to Northern States Power Co.'s plan to build a $63 million generating plant in Oak Park Heights, Minn., on the St. Croix riverbanks in the State of Minnesota. Many unsubstantiated allegations were made at that hearing and I know your committee is going to have a tough time distinguishing fact from fiction. One such item you will find in your records is a statement to the effect that the entire river would be diverted to cool the plant, or that the entire river will be heated by the discharge of hot water from the plant. These are simply not facts. Tests are being conducted at the University of Minnesota right now which will soon have the correct water usage and water-heating data for you if you wish to set the record straight. I'm sure the NSP president, Ray Ewald, will be glad to go over the university tests with you. Another witness testified that Stillwater has no storm sewers and is, or implied, that the city is dumping raw sewage into the St. Croix above the proposed plant site. Mr. Chairman, Mr. Pemble, the witness who testified to this effect did not check with the city at all on these matters and he simply doesn't have the facts. Stillwater, a community of around 9,000, just recently built a million dollar sewage disposal plant. It also has over 30 blocks of underground storm sewers (8,000 to 10,000 feet); the city just recently passed a resolution to spend $17,000 more for more storm sewer units, and has plans for a 5-year street and sewer construction program which will add even more storm sewer footage. Fran Mertis, of Hudson, Wis., testified that, on the basis of his opinions and findings, he felt the old adage * * * “innocent until proven guilty” * * * should be put aside in the hearings and that you gentlemen should find NSP "guilty, until proven innocent" for proposing to build its generating plant here. Some of this testimony should have been stricken from the records, as far as I'm concerned. You'll notice, if you take the time to check into this, that not one person speaking against the NSP plant was a city or county official, officially speaking, for a city or community in Washington County, or Oak Park Heights where NSP wishes to build its plant. You'll notice, if you want to probe further, that all but two or three of the witnesses who testified against the plant have either their home or business roots in Wisconsin or St. Paul. Why? To help you answer that last question you might look into the fact that was pointed out by another witness, George Richter, who runs a business in St. Paul. Richter pointed out that NSP had originally announced it would build the huge new plant on the Mississippi near St. Paul. When aviation officials told NSP, verbally, that they were wasting their time trying to put up an 800foot smokestack, in the path of Holman Field aircraft, NSP turned to Oak Park Heights to put up the plant. At no time, when the plant was scheduled for the St. Paul area, did any of the St. Paul businessmen voice their fears of air, water, or smoke pollution. Not until St. Paul realized that a huge tax windfall was slipping from their grasps did they mobilize to oppose the plant. Then, suddenly, the St. Paul Council, planning commission, St. Paul newspapers, and St. Paul businessmen with boats on the St. Croix all seemed to realize that the same plant that was to have been built on the Mississippi was a disasterous, poisonous, monstrosity of a plant that will pollute the air, river, and communities of the St. Croix Valley. How nice of them to think of our welfare. My point of all this is this: If the plant was and is supposed to be such a pollution generator that will fill the air for miles with poisonous vapors, and heat the water to such extent that it will kill all the fish, then this plant should not be allowed to be built anywhere. If the other, though smaller, NSP plants of this type are polluting the country then it is your duty to stop these plants, too, from operating. But, if you gentlemen find that you can allow a $63 million generating plant to be built, with safeguards you feel necessary, then you should suggest to your fellow legislators, who may have to deal with this later, that NSP, or any other industry for that matter, should be allowed to build where they want to. Why should a Save the St. Croix Committee, headed by one Adrian Warren of Houlton, Wis., who operates a business in St. Paul, and other members from St. Paul and Wisconsin; why should these people be able to dictate to NSP where NSP can build, if it can be built to protect the safeguards of river, air, and humans around it? What the controversy really boils down to is the fact that St. Paul is fighting to regain the plant it thought was theirs but which NSP has decided will be Oak Park Heights' instead. Cordially yours, V. L. HAMANN, Managing Editor. OPPONENTS (The following resolutions were submitted by Robert A. McCabe:) To Whom It May Concern: DANE COUNTY CONSERVATION LEAGUE, The board of directors of the Dane County Conservation League, meeting on October 6, 1964, and again on December 9, 1964, voted, all members present concurring, to go on record in opposition to the plan of the Northern States Power Co. for the construction of a coal-burning generating plant on the St. Croix River at Oak Park Heights, Minn. The directors represent a membership of approximately 900 sportsmen and conservationists, in and around Dane County, Wis. The league recognizes the need for economic development of the St. Croix River Valley, and the importance in such development of inexpensive electric power. We recognize the very natural interest on the part of local government and citizens in broadening their tax base and adding employment in their area. The league also recognizes, however, the great economic value, throughout the lower St. Croix River Valley, of recreational and residential development, which could unquestionally be discouraged by the presence of a powerplant of the magnitude proposed, no matter how carefully designed, operated, and maintained. The visual presence of the plant with its coal piles, docks, smokestack, and various other installations, the tremendous increase in barge traffic, the likelihood of thermal pollution of the St. Croix River and the possibility of air pollution in the valley, all would have a most serious and damaging effect on esthetic, scenic, and recreational values in this area. The economic benefits to be gained through planned development of these values must be considered, too. The league would urgently recommend that every alternative to this location be explored, and that every effort be made to preserve the unique qualities of the St. Croix River for what we feel is a higher use. EUGENE M. ROARK, Secretary. RESOLUTION OF THE MILWAUKEE COUNTY CONSERVATION ALLIANCE, INC., MILWAUKEE, WIS. Whereas the Northern State Power & Electric Co. of Minnesota has applied to State agencies for the authority to construct a $68 million utility for the purpose of producing electric power on the Minnesota boundary of the St. Croix River; and Whereas such installation poses a great threat to air pollution and water pollution of the St. Croix River which constitutes a great threat to aquatic life; and Whereas such plant would be powered by the use of coal which would be transported up the river in coal barges and would destroy much of the esthetic value of the waterway; and Whereas the St. Croix River is being considered for designation as a wild river area; and Whereas the people of the State of Wisconsin vigorously oppose such installation for the above specified reasons: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Milwaukee County Conservation Alliance of Milwaukee, Wis., at its regular monthly meeting, held Tuesday December 8, 1964, at the Milwaukee Journal Co., Seaway Lounge, 133 West State Street, Milwaukee, Wis., voted to vigorously oppose said installation. WALTER FUHRMAN, Secretary. RESOLUTION OF THE CITIZENS NATURAL RESOURCES ASSOCIATION OF WISCONSIN Whereas the Northern States Power Co. has revealed plans for the construction of a huge coal-burning electric power generating plant on the lower St. Croix River; and Whereas the St. Croix remains at present one of our more beautiful and relatively unspoiled streams; and Whereas there is a steadily mounting demand for the types of recreation provided by rivers such as the St. Croix, while the number of unspoiled and pollution-free rivers continues to decrease; and Whereas careful studies have apparently not been made, nor full consideration gixen to the possible effects of the proposed generating plant on the esthetic and recreational values of the St. Croix; and Inasmuch as the fate of the St. Croix is the rightful concern, not only of those people living in the immediate vicinity of the proposed plant and who would benefit financially from its construction, but also of all those who have visited, used and enjoyed this beautiful stream, and who are deeply concerned over the steady erosion of our Nation's beauty in the name of commerce and financial gain: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Citizens Natural Resources Association of Wisconsin, Inc., is opposed to the construction of this generating plant on the St. Croix River. We respectfully urge the directors of Northern States Power Co. to give full consideration to the esthetic and recreational values of the St. Croix, to locating an alternative site for this plant, and to the possibility of using a less objectionable fuel for its operation from a standpoint of minimizing air pollution. ROY O. GROMME, President. RESOLUTION OF THE BADGER FISHERMAN'S LEAGUE, INC., MILWAUKEE, WIS. The Badger Fishermen's League Inc., of Milwaukee having as its membership a group of conservation-minded sportsmen takes the following stand in opposition to the construction of a steam-electric generating plant on the lower St. Croix River. "Whereas a public announcement of plans by the Northern States Power Co. to construct a large electric powerplant on the St. Croix River; and "Whereas such powerplant in our opinion would detract from the conservation and recreation value of that river; and "Whereas the St. Croix River is one of the few remaining rivers in the North Central States that is relatively free of pollution and industrial contamination; and "Whereas the people of Wisconsin have as much equity and concern for this river as residents of Minnesota; and "Whereas adequate studies are as yet not available to indicate how much additional damage will be done by air and water pollution to the fish and wildlife of this river. In addition there have been no feasibility studies on the location of such a plant on the Mississippi River where such a plant could serve the proposed needs as indicated by the Northern States Power Co.; and "Whereas it is not the purpose of this organization to cause undue hardship and economic privation to any group of American citizens however small, we feel that the long-range conservation and recreational values must have precedent particularly in this case when clean rivers are so rare in our entire Nation: Now, therefore, be it We "Resolved, That the Badger Fishermen's League, Inc., of Milwaukee be opposed to the construction of an electric generating plant on the St. Croix River. suggest to all parties and persons concerned that full consideration be given to the conservation and recreational values of the St. Croix, keeping in mind that the St. Croix River is part of a broad and important recreational base for Wisconsin and Minnesota citizens and further that every possible effort be made to locate the proposed plant on the Mississippi River site." CHARLES H. BREES, Chairman, Legislative Committee. RESOLUTION OF THE SIERRA CLUB, JOHN MUIR CHAPTER, MADISON, WIS. Be it resolved, The Sierra Club, represented by its John Muir Chapter in Wisconsin, is opposed to the construction of a 500,000-kilowatt coal-burning generating powerplant being proposed by Northern States Power Co. to be built in Oak Park Heights, Minn., for the following reasons: 1. The St. Croix watershed is unspoiled, running clean, and unfettered in its upper reaches and is one of the high priority streams of our local Sierra Club program of "Saving our Wild Rivers." 2. The area of river in question is relatively unspoiled, therefore, commercial exploitation is contrary to Sierra Clubs' concepts of preservation of scenic and esthetic values. 3. Water use and overuse will create a thermal pollution which will affect the ecology of this river. Proposed chlorination of effluent will also affect the ecology. We feel that adequate studies in this area have not been made. In this, the Sierra Club would make these demands on the people or organizations involved: An ecological study of the pollutant effects of this proposed plant by: (1) Northern States Power Co., (2) State of Minnesota, (3) State of Wisconsin, (4) U.S. Department of Interior. Only after complete evaluation of suggested studies should the permit of powerplant be granted or disallowed. 4. A navigable stream is the property of all the people-it is part of the public domain. The Sierra Club recognizes the need for considering economic and recreational values, as well as scenic and esthetic values. This boundary water section of the St. Croix River has great recreational use by the people of Wisconsin as well as those from Minnesota. The proposed barge traffic required to transport the vast coal tonnage required for the proposed plant will certainly infringe on the rights of the recreationist, and in an all time factor the many will be sacrificing to the gain of the few. |