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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 22, 1992                   TAG: 9201220396
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

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MANURE-TANK WORK NOT MEANT AS SAFETY BYPASS

PERHAPS I need to clear up a few things that Juanita F. Callis (letter, Jan. 11) claims were misleading in the Dudleys' letter (Dec. 23).

After considerable research, in 1980 I had a manure tank installed by Virginia Harvest Store - the Cadillac of all tanks, so I thought. I was not instructed or required to install this tank, and I was one of the very first farmers in this area to do so.

Three years ago, I felt my tank would agitate the manure more effectively if a side pump were installed. I called VHS to ask if this would be OK. They sent a man out to do the job.

I did not stay to watch this man, nor did I help him. The problem occurred when a rock was caught in the bottom of the large tank, causing the motor to stop and the braker to kick off. The manure continued to flow, running into the small tank and then overflowing into the creek bed. I would not pay $50,000 for a tank and purposely omit the tank's safety features.

Ms. Callis said I "had the tank's pipes replumbed to bypass any safety valves." True, I did request VHS to do this work, but with no knowledge of this possible result. I have not been "proven negligent," as Ms. Callis states. Negligent is when you know something is wrong and ignore the problem anyway. This was an accident.

My crime was in not reporting this spill. But I really believed the manure would have been diluted if it flowed through other creek beds. I hope Ms. Callis never has an accident and her car overturns in a creek bed, spilling gas and killing 191,000 fish.

I wish to thank those of you who are out there telling my story in hopes of helping me. WALTER WINKLE RINER

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