Article date: December 12, 2000

By Ashley May

While millions of federal local and private dollars have been earmarked for the demolition and clean-up of the Avtex Fibers Superfund site, the first state money for the project has just been granted for the renovation of the plant’s administrative building.

On Friday, Gov. Jim Gilmore approved a $100,000 grant to the Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority, part of a $1.15 million derelict Structures Fund allocated by the 2000 General Assembly. The grants, which were awarded to 13 localities across the state, are given to local governments for the acquisition, demolition, removal and rehabilitation of targeted derelict structures.

The EDA requested the maximum $100,000 grant to aid with the renovation of the Avtex administration building, the total cost of which is estimated at more than $1 million, EDA Executive Director Stephen A. Heavener said.

"The renovation of the vacant administration building into a ‘green’ designed building will be the gateway to the entire redevelopment project," Heavener writes in the grant application. "The entire building will be renovated to include various ‘green’ technologies such as solar photovoltaic electrical system, geothermal HVAC, natural lighting, occupancy controls for HVAC and lighting, low waste construction program, cellulose insulation, certified wood products, xeriscaping, porous pavement and minimization of petrochemical based finishes and materials."

The finished 14,000 square-foot building will be targeted for lease to informational technology and telecommunications companies who will occupy the building July 1.

So far, a total of $12 million in federal funds has been granted to the Army Corps of Engineers for asbestos removal and building demolition. The corps is now hiring contractors and conducting surveys of asbestos on the 500 acre site, and will remove asbestos from remaining buildings and dispose of or recycle the materials as needed.

Almost $2 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will be used for asbestos and lead paint removal and building demolition.

Last year, the Environmental Protection Agency granted $100,000 to Avtex, the first Superfund Redevelopment Initiative grant given by that agency.

The $100,000 state Derelict Structures grant will be spent on the administration building between June and December, Heavener said.

"This is the first time the state has participated financially, and we’re really excited about that," he said.

Avtex, a former rayon manufacturing facility was first operated by the American Viscose Co. from 1940 to 1963, an then by FMC Corp. from 1963 to 1976. Avtex Fibers operated from 1976 to 1989, when the plant was shut down for financial, environmental and safety reasons.

Over 100- acres of waste basins are located in the conservancy park plan area, where sulfate sludge, fly ash and viscose have leached into soil and ground water. The basins will be cleaned up and capped as part of the remediation process, and environmentally friendly vegetation will create open space in the reclaimed area.

Because of the pollution from plant operations, the Avtex site was designated a federal Superfund site by the EPA in 1986, and last year was named as one of the pilot sites in the EPA’s Superfund redevelopment initiative.