Article date: October 27, 2000

By Ben Orcutt

Members of the Avtex Fibers Multi-Stakeholders Group spoke Thursday of their concerns regarding the safe development of a state-of-the-art soccer complex and the handling of American Indian artifacts that were recently discovered at the site.

Marcello DelVecchio, of the Rappahannock League for Environmental Protection, questioned the possible health risks children could face at the planned soccer complex.

The U.S. Soccer Foundation has entered into an agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to build national-caliber soccer complexes at 10 Superfund sites, Stephen A. Heavener, Front Royal Warren County Economic Development Authority executive director, told the group at Randolph-Macon Academy in Front Royal.

The planned soccer complex for the Avtex site is the pilot project, Heavener said. The U.S. Soccer Foundation has agreed to commit $1.8 million for the construction of the soccer fields, he said. The town of Front Royal and Warren County would have to pay for roads, bathrooms, concession stands and bleachers, Heavener added.

DelVecchio’s primary concern is what happens once the soccer fields are constructed and contaminants are discovered.

Bonnie Gross the remedial project manager of the Avtex site for the EPA, said such a scenario is unlikely.

The EPA has conducted tests on the portion of the Avtex site where the soccer complex is planned and there are no contaminants in that area, she said.

"The EPA continues to monitor this site and the site will be monitored forever," Gross said.

"I was satisfied that they (authorities) are making an effort to answer my question," DelVecchio said during a break in the meeting. "I wasn’t necessarily satisfied that the soccer federation has an incentive to change course should it prove these soccer fields are not a good idea."

Cynthia W. Auman, of Parsons Engineering Science Inc., told the group that her firm has discovered American Indian artifacts on about 11 acres of the site.

Officials said it is too soon to make a decision on whether or not the acreage could be preserved and how it may impact redevelopment plans for the site.

Bill Cutler, of FMC Corp., the firm that is responsible for the environment cleanup of the Avtex site, said he will sit down with representatives of the EDA, the EPA , and Virginia Department of Historical Resources and other stakeholders to determine if the second phase of the archaeological study of the site should be endorsed.

Cutler also preferred not to speculate as to what FMC would recommend should a significant archaeological find be discovered.

Phenix Hearn who is an American Indian and a stakeholder, expressed concern over how the area where the artifacts were discovered would be treated.

Asked if she felt she would get cooperation from the sponsor groups, Hearn replied, "FMC, yes. EDA, no."

The Multi-stakeholders Group is made up of sponsor members, local government officials, area businesses, and private residents who all have input with regard to the cleanup and redevelopment of the 440-acre Avtex Superfund site that runs adjacent to Kendrick Lane and the South Fork of the Shenandoah River.