Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 11, 1990 TAG: 9003122961
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: F-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: HORTON P. BEIRNE
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
On Feb. 26, a lynch mob was out in full force in Lexington at a public hearing to blast Westvaco and its operation of a bleached paperboard mill in Covington.
The water board is considering a paper industry-supported 1.2-parts-per-quadrillion limit in Virginia, a level 100 times higher than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's recommendation of .013 ppq.
Paper mills, like Westvaco in Covington, bleach pulp to remove lignin and give paper a higher brightness - dioxin is formed as an unwanted byproduct during the bleaching process.
Although it may be true that more can be done, let's not forget that Westvaco has voluntarily spent more than $11 million in Covington and $30 million companywide to reduce dioxin.
According to Westvaco's calculations, dioxin generated at its Covington mill was reduced by 98 percent in late 1989.
But let us ask this question: What is really known about dioxin?
The scientific community says that the chemical causes cancer in laboratory animals but isn't sure if it is a human carcinogen. And, current technology cannot effectively measure the chemical in water below 10 ppq.
Why is it fair then to go on a blind witch hunt and place restrictions on industry that will limit its effectiveness in the world markets?
The paper industry accounts for less than 2 percent of dioxin generated in the United States. Just how do we plan to deal with the other 98 percent?
Don't get us wrong, we fully support measures to protect and preserve the environment. As the 1990s progress, environmental protection is an issue that will grow more prevalent. But there must be trade-offs involved.
Other states have adopted standards allowing paper mills to release more dioxin than is proposed in Virginia. And, the 1.2 ppq standard is more severe than standards in foreign countries, which all have mills that compete with Westvaco. In addition, the state's proposal of 1.2 ppq is within the range of safe limits as determined by the Virginia Department of Health.
Westvaco proved its faith in Virginia last October when it announced a $530 million expansion project in the commonwealth - Virginia should return the favor and grant the company the leeway it needs to remain competitive in a vastly-growing market.
What is the alternative?
Westvaco could determine that it is too expensive to do business in Virginia.
If residents persist in supporting unrealistic standards and the state were to adopt them, this would tell us that the Alleghany Highlands does not need the 1,400 jobs at the Covington mill and the more than $250 million it provides to the local economy. It says the commonwealth can do without the 2,600 jobs Westvaco provides and the $4.1 million the company pays in state and local taxes will never be missed.
We're not asking the state Water Control Board to endorse polluting the environment. We are asking the board to take a conservative approach on dioxin until more is learned about the chemical.
The standards should be set at 1.2 ppq for now and in the future, as more is learned about the chemical through advanced technology, the limit could be lowered if necessary.
While the watchword for the 1990s will be environment, all of us need to keep in mind another word - compromise. The 1990s will be a time of concentrating on cleaning the environment but we, as responsible residents of this community, this state and this nation, also have the responsibility of determining the proper balance between environment and industry.
by CNB