THE WARREN SENTINEL

Article date: October 25, 2001

Demolition is next phase of Avtex cleanup

Stakeholders hear update

By: Jay North

Demolition work is one of the next steps at the Avtex Fibers Superfund Site.  The ninth Multi-Stakeholder’s Group meeting was held Thursday, Oct. 18 at the Randolph-Macon Academy.  Guest speakers ranged from Bonnie Gross, a representative from the Environmental Protection Agency, to Marc Gutterman from the Army Corps of Engineers.  Gutterman informed the gathered crowd that asbestos abatement on section two, the section where the old power plant is located, is almost complete.  The next step, demolition, should begin in 30 days.

The large green building located within eyesight of Kendrick Lane, part of section one, will begin asbestos abatement the beginning of December, with completion scheduled for the end of May, 2002 followed by demolition.

Gutterman informed the crowd that much of the left over concrete and materials will be used in the reclamation of the site.  Concrete and other materials will be ground into gravel for roads across the facility.

Doug Bement, project manager for FMC Corporation , held in informational meeting regarding the current status of the storage basins, and gave an overview of the site’s progress.  He gave a slide presentation showing the progress of the work, as well as visual aids showing a more finished design and conceptual plan for the former basin areas.

In response to public inquiry about the future business park and the types of facilities being considered, Stephen Heavener of the Economic Development Authority, stated that factories are not part of the park’s concept.

“The purpose of that park is to build high end office buildings,” said Heavener.  “We don’t want trucks traveling on that end of Front Royal.”