Article date: June 15, 2000

By Dan M. Telvock

Front Royal Town Council unanimously accepted four amendments to its Town Plan Monday night regarding the development of the Avtex Fibers site.

However, there was some opposition to the development from a concerned citizen, Ann Andersen and Women’s Alliance for Environmental Justice and Renewal representative Elisa Schwartz.

Schwartz said the environmental group is concerned about what would be done with the basins on the property.

"... it is toxic to smaller organisms (the sulfate sludge in the basins)," said Schwartz. "It can cause mutations... We’re concerned about leaving (the basins) in the flood plain. We don’t think they considered all the options."

The basins are ponds that have sulfate sludge underneath the water. The sludge does not present a danger to humans but it can affect the ecosystem at a lower level. The Environmental Protection Agency plans to fill in the ponds and drain the water.

The other concern raised by Schwartz was who would own the site after the 30-year period that’s described in the consent decree with the Environmental Protection Agency.

"It does not seem like they have any specifics," said Schwartz. "Just presumptions."

Economic Development Authority Executive Director Stephen A. Heavener said a 30 year time frame is standard procedure.

"Legally, 30 years is the only window...," said Heavener. "The EPA consent decree always last 30 years.

Heavener also said the EPA has the ability to extend the agreement beyond 30 years. Heavener said the concerns raised by Schwartz had nothing to do with Monday night’s discussion, which centered on amendments to the 240 acre river conservancy park.

Schwartz said she just wanted the alliance’s concerns documented.

The concern raised by Ann Andersen, who lives near the Avtex site, was about the very volatile substance called viscose on the site.

"It’s highly volatile," said Schwartz. "It can explode."

The Avtex Fibers plant close in 1988 after a PCB contamination in the Shenandoah River was traced to the plant. The site was later listed on the National Priorities List under the Superfund Law. The three major contaminants found at the site were metal-bearing sludge, flyash and waste viscose.

Council voted to tidy up the Town Plan created in 1997 for the Avtex Site. The changes are as following:

• Amend the language in the Action Strategy of the Open Space and Parks Chapter to read "expand the present 4.5 acre Ed Stump Park, with acquisition by the town and / or county of the present acreage plus an additional 30 acres. Encourage development of a Warren County soccer complex in the expanded area."
• Amend the language in the Action Strategy of the Land Use and Development Chapter to read "Incorporate the "conservancy Park Master Plan Report, prepared by EDAW, Inc. dated March 2000, as a component of this Town Plan and encourage efforts toward its implementation, with adequate plans towards long-term maintenance."
• Change the future land use map for the conservation area west of the railroad to be preservation designation.

A second reading on the amendments is expected at council’s June 26 regular meeting.

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