Mr. Watkins

I attach a copy of the motion filed by the Sierra Club and the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy today requesting that the commission modify the rules applicable to this case to permit electronic filing and service in lieu of the costly and cumbersome hard copy filing and service rules currently applicable.

For the Commission's information, I attach the USPS receipt in the amount of $29.28 for the postage on this one filing, which was served by mail. This was a five-page document, forty percent of which consisted of the two-page service list, which was typed in 10 point font and three columns wide in order to fit it on just two pages.

Briefs filed in the TRAIL proceeding last year frequently had $2 and $3 postage requirements. And, of course, there is no cost shown here for copying. When you get to 20, 30 and 40 page briefs the costs escalate quickly to several hundreds of dollars per filing. Individuals and non-profits cannot afford these costs, and they are not necessary for the efficient operation of the Commission's business.

William V. DePaulo, Esq. 179 Summers Street, Suite 232 Charleston, WV 25301-2163 Tel: 304-342-5588 Fax: 304-342-5505 william.depaulo@gmail.com www.passeggiata.com

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