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NORTHERN VIRGINIA DAILY
By: Mary Beiler
EDA Executive Director Stephen A. Heavener told the Warren County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday that the EDA needs an additional $10 million from the federal government for the Army Corps of Engineers to finish asbestos abatement and demolition of the former industrial buildings at the site. While the Corps of Engineers only needs $8 million to finish the project, an extra $2 million was tacked on "just to make certain" funding is adequate. Heavener said Tuesday that he recently met with Republican Sens. John Warner and George Allen, and Rep. Frank R. Wolf, R- 10th, to discuss the situation. "I'm cautiously optimistic that they're going to work real hard to get the authorization and appropriation that we need to get to work," he said. "Hopefully, the federal budget will be passed in the next month or so, and we need to be included in that." Wolf and Warner helped get Congress to authorize and appropriate $12 million to cover the cost of asbestos abatement and demolition of the buildings during the 2000 and 2001 federal budget years, according to Heavener. The extra $8 million was determined after the Corps of Engineers performed a study in early 2001 that uncovered additional asbestos and remediation challenges. The agency found more asbestos in the roofs of the buildings than was anticipated, according to agency representatives. The $12 million figure was an estimate made in 1998 prior to the detailed on site analysis. "The numbers are more accurate now because the corps has been in the buildings and knows what needs to be done," Heavener said Wednesday. Demolition on-site has been progressing ahead of schedule. All of Section II has been demolished, and the Corps of Engineers is now concentrating on Section I, which includes the Polymer Plant. Agency representatives said they have enough funds to finish out the year, but need the additional money to complete the demolition. "The key to this is that we don't immobilize work," Heavener told the supervisors. "The timing is critical." Shenandoah District Supervisor B. H. "Ben" Weddle said he thinks it is appropriate to take the matter to congressional representatives, adding that he doesn't think local funds should be spent on the project. Weddle said he is concerned whether the additional $10 million will be enough. Heavener said he feels comfortable with the estimate. "The corps is telling us unequivocally that they can do it for that figure," Heavener said. |