Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 18, 1990 TAG: 9005180577
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MADELYN ROSENBERG NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
"There's pretty dramatic evidence of runoff from an industrial site going into the creek," Terry said as she stood by a culvert at McCready's Lumberyard, watching reddish water trickle toward the creek 50 yards away.
"I do sense a concern here," she said. "A concern for health reasons and recreation reasons."
The state Water Control Board, the Department of Waste Management and the local health department all have been keeping tabs on the heavy metals that have been leaching into the creek from the old Allied Chemical site. The Control Board has asked Downtown East Inc., the limited partnership that owns the site, to stop the runoff.
"The matter has never been referred to our office," Terry said. "I knew I would be out here and thought I would come by and see it."
"Obviously I can't tell you what's going on here," she said. "I'm not a chemist. I don't know what's in the water. But it's clear there has been dramatic erosion here. I can tell you I will do all I can to help the Water Control Board. . . . This does not appear to be a situation to be taken lightly."
Terry said earlier Thursday that she suspects Peak Creek will be one of her next major cases.
The creek flows into Claytor Lake, one of the county's major water resources. Red water has been spotted there as well.
"I know folks in Giles and in Pulaski [counties] are concerned about Claytor Lake," Terry said. "I assure you we'll be following up on this and doing everything I can."
Terry spent Thursday touring Montgomery, Pulaski and Wythe counties, visiting with economic development officials and shaking hands with Democratic supporters.
In Radford, she visited the New River Valley Workshop, where mentally handicapped residents earn their livings sewing, cutting wood and doing other tasks.
Public/private partnerships may need to handle the needs of the mentally handicapped and other groups, including the homeless and the elderly, Terry said during her lunch-time stop in Christiansburg.
by CNB