NORTHERN VIRGINIA DAILY

Article Date: July 09, 2003

Cleanup site will receive $11 million in federal funds

By:  Ben Orcutt

Rep. Frank R. Wolf announced Tuesday that the U. S. House has paved the way for an additional $11 million in federal funding to be set aside for the cleanup of the Avtex Superfund site.

“While the Army Corps of Engineers, working in conjunction with the Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority, and the FMC Corporation have made great strides in cleaning up the site, the demolition of the buildings and the asbestos removal have cost more than originally expected,” Wolf, R-10th says in a press release.  “This additional money will allow this phase of the project to be completed.”

The additional funding, which Wolf lobbied for is coming from two different sources: $6 million is included in the FY 2004 Defense appropriations bill, which was approved by the full House on Tuesday, and $5 million is from the FY 2004 Energy and Water appropriations bill, which was approved by a House subcommittee Tuesday and is expected to come before the full House later this month, according to Wolf’s news release.

The Water Resources Development Act, which will provide the authorization to spend the additional funds, is expected to move through the House by the end of the year.

To date, more than $12 million in federal funds has been made available to the Avtex Redevelopment Project, but there were concerns that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would have to cease demolition work in the fall due to a lack of funding.

“This is fabulous news,” said Stephen A. Heavener, executive director of the Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority, which is helping to oversee cleanup efforts along with FMC Corp, the responsible party.

“We anticipated that there would not be funding in the upcoming fiscal year,” Heavener added.  “What’s happening now is we’re making major progress through the complex federal funding process... This permits the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to work without demobilizing in the fall.  I’m assuming, in a best-case scenario, we’re talking 24 to 36 months to finish the demolition.”

Once the demolition process is complete, FMC will then proceed with “appropriate soil remediation,” Heavener said.

“Then we can start in earnest to develop the business park,” he added.  “So we’re probably talking three to four years before the business park can be started.  We believe it’s a 20 year project to build eight to 10 office buildings.”

When the redevelopment project is completed, the former rayon manufacturing site, which closed in 1989, will be the home to a 160 acre business park, 240-acre conservancy park, a 30-acre soccer complex and a 10-acre retail commercial development in the old Avtex parking lot.