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The Warren Sentinel Letters To The Editor Citizens concerns about Avtex should be addressed "Avtex." The name brings to mind different things for different people that live in or near the community of Front Royal. Many of us think of the past and the financial bounty it once brought to the area. Others are thinking of the future and all of the important actions that are taking place to clean up the terrible waste left behind. There are many homeowners and residents in the community adjacent to the plant who must deal with health problems, decreased property values and noxious fumes each and every day. People who are sick and want to know why. Aren't people in our local, state and federal governments supposed to take care of these things? It is time that we make a shift in our thinking and realize that we are the government. It is our responsibility and our right to take responsibility for actions that have affected our present and the ones that will affect our futures. And it's not always pleasant or easy. The EPA is charged with [the] responsibility [of cleaning up the site] because we as a nation have realized that in our technological ventures we have created huge messes that need to be cleaned up. I, for one, am grateful to that agency for doing what it does. But the EPA cannot be trusted to do its job without members of the community taking an active role as "watch dogs," making sure that this cleanup is done properly, with the best interests of the community and the environment in mind. Many people in Front Royal have been dissatisfied with the decision not to remove toxic sludge from the flood plain. Many have been concerned that there has been no health study done on the surrounding community. Many would like testing of their soil to see if it is safe for growing vegetable gardens. Many suffer from health problems that appear to come from fumes from the site. Those who have expressed their concern over these issues have been criticized for their efforts to protect the health of the citizens and the future health of the beautiful Shenandoah River. They are told that they don't know what they are talking about, that they should leave this in the hands of the scientists. Community members who have raised concerns have time and again been hushed and even berated. Issues that they wish to discuss further are avoided and questions answered in a condescending manner. This is an attitude that is used to take empowerment away from the public. Unfortunately, that has repeatedly been the case at meetings of the Multi-Stakeholders group, a committee made up of heads of the participating agencies of government on the Avtex project as well as those in the community who have a stake in the issues (everyone!). You do not need to be a scientist to see that many of the things taking
place in this cleanup are flawed. All you need is common sense. It is
up to us to stand up for our rights as part of a democratic government
to have a say in how this cleanup is carried out. If we leave it in
the hands of an agency and let them scorn us for exercising this right
we are forgetting everything that our forefathers and foremothers worked
so hard for. The history of the Avtex site before the cleanup illustrates all too well that we cannot trust the government to protect us from polluters. The government kept the plant open despite the knowledge that deadly pollutants were leeching underground into people's wells [and] despite the health problems occurring amongst the workers due to unsafe conditions. In my research on the EPA, I have collected many newspaper articles that investigated the activities of the EPA and found the agency to be corrupted by conflicts of interest time and time again. An article in the Washington Post last summer reinforces the importance of the public always monitoring important activities for which the government, particularly the EPA, is responsible. The article addressed the argument over whether or not the spreading of sewage sludge on field is safe. People in the communities where sludge was being spread began to get sick. Some even died. Naturally, their families raised concerns. But like thousands across the country, they've received much the same response from county, state and federal agencies: Sludge spreading , if done according to regulations, is perfectly legal and perfectly safe. Lately, however, its safety is receiving more scrutiny. In 1994, Tony Behun, 11, of Osceola Mills, Pa., rode a dirt bike through a field covered with sludge. He developed a fever and lesions on his arm, fell into a coma and was dead one week later. Microbiologist David Lewis believes that sludge probably caused Tony's death. Lewis, who works for the EPA but stresses that he studied Tony's death as a private scientist and not an EPA employee, began speaking out against the EPA's sludge policy in 1996 with an opinion piece in the British journal Nature. "The science is so bad, it clearly puts public health and safety at risk," Lewis said. The cleanup and redevelopment of the Avtex site are to be models for all future cleanup/redevelopment initiatives of superfund sites. [Therefore] It is essential that we delve into the issues that raise our concerns. It is imperative that the EPA and other agencies that are there to serve us listen to our concerns and do their best to protect our safety and well being. And in no way should we ever be criticized for demanding the right to participate in this process. Arlia Schwartz The writer is a member of the Coalition for the SAFE Redevelopment
of Avtex. |