Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 30, 1990 TAG: 9006300162
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Short
Virginia Department of Waste Management officials will use the money to staunch the flow of poisonous runoff from the Kim-Stan landfill and bulldoze soil over the top of the dump, Wilder said in a statement.
An Alleghany Circuit Court judge ordered the privately run dump closed last month because of pollution violations.
"Clearly, our first priority is to protect the people of the surrounding communities. And yet it is unfortunate that the people of the commonwealth must foot the bill for the irresponsible actions of the owners and operators of the landfill," Wilder said.
The runoff, rainwater that becomes contaminated as it filters through layers of buried garbage, has polluted area waterways.
The state already has spent $60,750 to cork the runoff and perform other cleanup operations.
"I have directed the attorney general to . . . utilize all available legal means to hold the owners and operators of Kim-Stan liable for all further cleanup and closure costs," Wilder said.
Circuit Judge Duncan M. Byrd Jr. ordered Kim-Stan's owners to begin cleaning up the dump May 10. The owners have said repeatedly the company is broke and cannot comply with the order.
The state filed a motion Tuesday asking Kim-Stan officials to appear in court July 12 to explain the delay in cleanup operations.
The landfill took in tons of out-of-state garbage before it closed.
Engineers for the county have estimated the cost of cleanup and monitoring at $2 million to $5 million.
by CNB