THE WARREN SENTINEL
Article date: May 16, 2002

Officials report on progress at Avtex

By Joe Farruggia

Representatives of all of the groups responsible for cleaning up the Avtex Superfund site conducted the 10th meeting of the Avtex Fibers Multi-Stakeholders Group last Thursday and told those who attended that the project is proceeding pretty much on schedule.

Doug Bement, site manager for FMC Corp., said the sulfate sludge has been removed from most of the basins and placed in one basin, which will be closed using fly ash along with a soil and synthetic fiber cover.

Three of the basins will be closed, one will remain open to hold stormwater and runoff, and a fifth will be transformed into a wetland and stormwater management area.

Bonnie Gross of the Environmental Protection Agency noted that another eight viscose basins closed by FMC while the plant was still in operation do not satisfy current requirements, and that a landfill operated on the site must also be closed. She noted that FMC and EPA are working on a feasibility study to analyze options for that work.

Stephen Heavener, director of the Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority, gave an update of the plans to renovate the former administration building to provide a headquarters for the EDA, and interpretive museum on the history of the site, and office space for business clients.

Al Opstal, project manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, noted that work is progressing on the demolition of the buildings on the site, but he and Heavener also said that once the current funding from the federal government runs out, the demolition will have to be put on hold until mor e funding can be obtained.

The cost of demolition is estimated at $20 million, and $12 million was secured from Congress with the help of U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf and U.S. Senator John Warner.

Both Opstal and Heavener said there will be an opportunity to get funding for the additional $8 million in next year's federal budget, and that Wolf and Warner are working to secure the money.

"This is an excellent example of inter-and intra-governmental cooperation, as well as community involvement," Heavener said.
During a public comment session, Front Royal resident Norm Landicho complained that the EPA is not doing enough to notify residents of health hazards, and claimed that promised health studies and health assessments either were not done or were not make available to the public.

But EPA's Bonnie Gross and Ruth Wuenschel said the information was sent to residents and available on the EPA's website.

FMC spokesman Rick Goss said later that numerous presentations have been make to Landicho and other concerned residents to keep channels of communication open with them.