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2 I THE PURPOSE OF THE FEDERAL POWER ACT IS TO ENCOURAGE PROMPT NON-FEDERAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE NATION'S WATER RESOURCES In considering the Commission's order of August 16, it is well to bear in mind that the Federal Power Act was designed to encourage prompt non-federal development of the nation's water resources. That such was the Act's purpose has already been recognized by this Commission in the Roanoke Rapids case, 1 wherein the Commission stated (10 FPC at 4): "The Federal Power Act looks to prompt development of water resources where such development is feasible and in the public interest, and it gives to the Commission discretionary power to delay utilization only where such delay is found to be imperative. In addition to the desirability of using water power whenever such use is more economical than the use of non-replaceable fuels, *** we must consider the effect upon the general public in the area affected. The Power Act accords to the consumers served by the applicant the right to obtain the benefits of water power development and they should be given those benefits as quickly as possible." And in affirming the Commission's order in that case, the Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit expressly adopted the following findings of the Commission and the Examiner therein, which have particular appropriateness here (191 F. 2d at 809): "'(58) The evidence received does not show that the Roanoke Rapids site would be developed at any time by the Federal government, should the pending application for license be denied. Such denial would of course permit the water, which the applicant plans at once to utilize, to continue to be wasted to the sea.' ******* 1 Virginia Electric & Power Co., 10 F.P.C. 1 (1951), aff'd. United States ex rel Chapman v. F.P.C., 191 F. 2d 796 (4th Cir., 1951) aff'd. 345 U. S. 153 (1953).Epson Perfection 4870 Photo, 400 dpi, 8 bit, 14,981,120 byte