Article date: July 12, 2001

By Joe Farruggia

About 200 residents, many of them former American Viscose and Avtex Fibers employees, turned out Saturday for the first public open house to be held at the Superfund site.

The open house was cosponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the FMC Corp., the Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development authority, and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

Visitors were given auto tours around the site, viewed exhibit displays that explain the cleanup process and plans for redevelopment, and had opportunities to talk one on one with cleanup officials about their concerns.

One group called the Coalition for the Safe Redevelopment of Avtex was present to voice its disapproval on the way the cleanup is being handled.

"We want it to be cleaned up, but we want it to be cleaned up safely," said Maya Whitespark, a member of the group. She and other members sported signs and banners that echoed their belief that the EPA’s current cleanup process uses "unsafe methods" and "flawed plans."

But Rich Kuhn of the EPA pointed out that the plans had to go through several layers of scientists and environmental experts before they were approved.

"We may never be able to convince (the protestors), but we believe the plan is safe and sound," he said.