Letter print date: June 14, 2001

I would like to take this opportunity to address some misinformation circulating in the community about the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) plan to close 11 waste basins on the Avtex Fibers Superfund Site in Front Royal.

EPA’s first concern is, and will continue to be, the health ,environment, and peace of mind of the Front Royal community. Through our community relations effort, we presented the basin closure plan at a public meeting, opened a 30 day public comment period, and distributed fact sheets. In addition, during the design process we continued to discuss the basin closure and keep the community posted with updates.

Some members of the community are concerned that the waste basins are located within the 100- year flood plain of the Shenandoah River. The waste in these basins does not present a threat to human health. However, as long as the basins stay open, they do present a potential risk to fish and lower organisms, such as insects. Our closure plan calls for consolidating the waste sludge into a smaller area and covering it with a synthetic fabric and two feet of soil. The soil will be vegetated to prevent erosion and will allow for a meadow habitat to grow. The river bank will be reshaped in a way that minimizes the impact of a flood.

This plan protects the environment by consolidating and closing the basins within the next two to three years; removing exposure to uncovered waste and eliminating the potential for waste to leave the basins by wind and flood erosion.

EPA shares your concern about the waste material being in the flood plain. However, the agency has taken precautions to ensure the long term effectiveness of our closure plan. Past flooding events have been carefully tracked and the latest computer programs have been used to model future flood events. This information was used to develop a closure plan that will ensure the waste remains safely covered and intact during flood events. In addition, the closure plan meets with Virginia’s and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requirements for flood plain safety. EPA and Virginia will regularly monitor and maintain the cover to ensure the closure plan remains effective over time.

EPA has explored a range of options for dealing with the Avtex waste basins and we have kept our lines of communications open throughout the process.

We truly believe that we have arrived at the most responsible solution that will protect public health and the environment, both in the short and long terms.

As we move forward in the cleanup of the Avtex site, we will continue to meet regularly with the community through our Multi-Stakeholders Group, and we are always available to answer questions and respond to comments.

Should you have any questions or comments about any aspect of the project, please contact Richard Kuhn of EPA at : 800-553-2509.

Bonnie Gross