Article date: March 08, 2001

Historical project, soccer fields discussed at public meeting

By Dan M. Telvock

Avtex stakeholders discussed a wide ranging slate of issues at a meeting at Randolph Macon Academy last Thursday, but the most promising revelation of the night for engineers was that they now know where the groundwater contamination is coming from and are looking at remedies.

The "primary culprits" of the groundwater contamination at the Avtex Superfund site in Front Royal, according to FMC’s on site manager Bill Cutler, are three viscose basins, and Cutler said a feasibility study is underway to figure out how to rectify the problem.

Viscose is the primary synthetic ingredient used in the making of rayon, which was manufactured for more than 40 years at the Avtex plant.

Cutler said engineers working on the cleanup efforts have drilled about 100 wells at the 430- acre site, which helped them locate where the groundwater contamination originates.

Cutler said the 100 wells "allowed us to identify (the three basins) as the source (of contamination)".

Cutler said four contaminants out of 23 that are on the site have been pinpointed as the major problems— ammonia , antimony, arsenic, and carbon disulfide.

The arsenic and antimony are metals that leeched into the groundwater through the soil and rocks.

FMC representative Doug Bement said he found something "very interesting" while trying to locate the contamination — green liquid and reddish liquid spewing from two wells located near the three viscose basins.

"One looks like Gatorade," Bement said, " and one looks like Hawaiian Punch".

Cutler said the green liquid is viscose that is heavily diluted with water and oxygen, while the reddish liquid is liquid viscose in a pure form. Bement added that both chemicals are dangerous to the public health.

"The chemicals we have here are not to be taken lightly," Bement said. ‘We very carefully monitor the air as we are doing this work. The viscose isn’t the problem. It’s the liquid that’s in there that is the problem."

In April, the basin closure project will begin for the other 12 basins located on the site that do not contain hazardous materials — three waste water treatment basins, five sulfate basins, and four fly ash basins.

Cutler said the closure of these basins will be done in accordance with Virginia’s solid waste regulations. These basins do not contain hazardous material, Cutler said, but solid waste that will most likely be covered with soil and sealed so that the waste does not "infect" its surroundings. The process is very similar to a landfill closure.

Cutler said the feasibility study that is underway will help engineers figure out what to do with the viscose basins, which actually have hazardous liquid in them.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will choose a remedy that is economically and environmentally feasible, and will present their plant at a public hearing before it is adopted.

"Most likely (the viscose basins closure) will go through the same landfill closure process (as the other basins)," Cutler said.

Also discussed at the meeting was the second phase of an archeological dig that will take place on site near the end of April after archaeologists from Parsons Engineering Science Inc. found artifacts that possibly could be from early Native American Settlements.

The 37- acre plat of land is separated into two sections: Area B, a 24 acre open field next to the former Avtex Administration Building, and Area A, which is adjacent to Area B.

Area B is where three different typed of artifacts were discovered — fragments of stone tools, ceramics and fire-cracked rocks. The fire-cracked rock indicates campfires were used at the site.

The EPA and the Virginia Department of Historic Preservation oversaw the first phase of the study, which was performed Aug. 7 - 17.

Cutler said phase two of the archeological project should determine if the site will be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places and will provide information on how to care for the two sites in the future.

Once archeologists begin the second phase, residents of all ages will be able to watch the dig on -site.

"We’d like to allow (any members of ) the public who are interested in seeing this to come on out" Cutler said.

FMC consultant Sue Riner and Amy Probsdorfer of EDAW Inc., which designed a historical interpretation of the site, presented the very early stages of a proposal to create an interpretive museum and walking trail to educate visitors on the history of the property from the time of early settlement to the current redevelopment stage.

Riner said FMC has partnered with the Warren Heritage Society so that the two groups can work together on gathering information interviewing Avtex employees on camera and to preserve pictures and other items of interest.

"The oral history is something I’m very excited about," Riner said. "We’ve conducted several already. We would like to preserve the heritage and carry the legacy further."

The other issues discussed at the Stakeholders meeting:

EPA’s Bonnie Gross said 25- acres of structures remain at the Avtex site and all need to be cleaned and asbestos removed by the Army Corps of Engineers before demolishing the structures. Gross also said there are six mile of old sewers that need to be removed or plugged.

Gross said a clean- up plan needs to be presented at a public hearing, before it can be implemented

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Operable Unit 10

OU-10 consist of eight sealed viscose basins. These do not include the three open basins discussed by Bill Cutler ( see main story). Gross said the goal is to bring OU-10 to state standards, and a feasibility study is the next step to make sure these basins won’t affect the groundwater. Gross said solid nonhazardous waste is in these basins.

Skyline Soccer Complex

Stakeholders were introduced to the students who won the soccer complex naming contest — Nick and Brian Cornell.

The Warren County Board of Supervisors, EDA and the Front Royal Town Council held a naming contest for the soccer complex that was originally named ED Stump Field, but which will now be known as Skyline Soccer Complex.

Nick and Brian Cornell will receive official plaques at a later date from the Board of Supervisors, Parks and Recreation director Dan Lenz said.

EDA Executive Director Stephen Heavener said soccer players may be able to use the fields as early as 2002.

Heavener said the EDA applied for a grant from the U.S. Soccer Foundation for $486,595 to fund the goals, equipment, irrigation of the seven fields, lighting, satellite restrooms and bleachers.