Gov. L. Douglas Wilder says redevelopment of the Avtex Fibers site in Front Royal is a "formidable" challenge and has asked that a briefing be arranged on the project for Cathleen A. Magennis, secretary of economic development, and staff members of her department.

"While the Avtex site is certainly a challenge to the EPA and those who have to address the environmental problems that arose from this plant’s operation, it may also be viewed as a potential resource to the community by creating jobs and increasing the tax base", Wilder says in a letter to 10^th District Rep. Frank R. Wolf, state Sen H. Russell Potts of Winchester and Delegate Raymond R. "Andy" Guest Jr. of Warren County.

The efforts won’t have an impact on the area’s current unemployment woes, he says, "but over the longer term, this strategically situated property must be returned to productive use if Front Royal is to prosper."

Wilder notes that a former FMC plant site near Fredericksburg is being reused.

Although the problems are different, he says, "there may be strategies that are applicable to the Avtex site."

Fred Foster, chairman of the Industrial Redevelopment Commission, the group that is pushing for the plant’s redevelopment, said he has tried repeatedly to reach Magennis to set up a visit to the site, but has had no success.