Northern Virginia Daily

Article Date:  July 16, 2003

Avtex demolition funding advances

By:  Daily Staff Report

Rep. Frank Wolf announced Tuesday that funding to finish the demolition of the remaining buildings at the former Avtex Fibers plant in Front royal has moved forward another step.

The House Appropriations Committee voted Tuesday in favor of the Energy and Water Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2004, which includes $5 million for the cleanup of the Avtex site.  The bill is expected to go before the full House of representatives as early as next week.

An additional $6 million dollars was approved by the House last week as part of the 2004 Defense Appropriations bill, making a total of $11 million to carry on the Superfund site cleanup.

“This is another positive step,” said Wolf, R-10th, who has been shepherding the funding through the congressional appropriations process.  “Demolishing the buildings and removing the asbestos has cost far more than anyone envisioned, so getting this additional money is critical to finishing the first stage of the cleanup.”