Article date: February 02, 2002

Heavener says current funding will only cover part of asbestos cleanup

By: Mary Jordan

The Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority needs an additional $8 million from the federal government for the Army Corps of Engineers to finish the asbestos abatement and demolition of the former industrial buildings at the Avtex Superfund site, or the remaining buildings will be left on site.

U.S. Army Norfolk District Engineer Col. David Hansen met with the EDA, FMC Corp. and other stakeholders Friday to discuss the shortfall in financing.

Rep. Frank R. Wolf, R-10th, and Sen. John Warner helped get Congress to authorize and appropriate $12 million to cover the costs of asbestos abatement and demolition of the buildings during the fiscal 2000 and 2001 federal budget years, according to EDA Executive Director Stephen A. Heavener.

The extra $8 million was determined after the Army Corps performed a study in early 2001 that uncovered additional asbestos and remediation challenges, Heavener said. The Army Corps found more asbestos in the roofs of the buildings than was anticipated, he added.

The $12 million figure was an estimate made in 1998 prior to the detailed on site analysis Heavener said.

Hansen said one of the reasons it is costing more than originally thought is because of extra precautions to ensure the safety of nearby residents. The Army Corps is getting ready to start the demolition phase of the cleanup and wants to guarantee that the risk of asbestos exposure is very low, he said.

According to Hansen, the $12 million figure officials are working with now will only cover the demolition of 60 percent of the buildings.

Hansen noted that Wolf’s former involvement helped get the project started.

"Without [Wolf] stepping up, the project could not have come forth," Hansen said, adding that Wolf’s aid in getting the $12 million promoted the project from a dream to a reality.

However, unless the Army Corps receives another $8 million to cover the total cost of the $20 million phase, it will be left at a standstill. The $12 million will be exhausted by the end of this year, at which time the Army Corps will have to halt work until additional funding is authorized and appropriated, Heavener said.

"It takes national support to move forward," Hansen said.

Heavener agreed that support at the highest level is important.

"To delay or terminate a project of this magnitude with only $8 million to go would be a catastrophe for the community," Heavener said. "This is a highly visible success story combining cooperative efforts among a variety of federal, state, local, government and private sector agencies that I am ceratin should be a model for other complex redevelopment project."