Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 9, 1992 TAG: 9202070057
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
WASTE INCINERATOR AT ARSENAL: CON
It seems to me it would be more appropriate to call the Radford Arsenal proposed "Incinerator 2000" the "Turkey 2000."The Radford Arsenal has a problem getting rid of its waste, so let's dream up a project and get the citizens to pay for our problems. At least that's how I see this pork-barrel project.
The people of Floyd fought long and hard to keep our county landfill with no outside trash allowed to be dumped there. We feel taking responsibility for our waste and paying the cost ourselves is the way to go. It's called responsibility.
The Radford Arsenal is a large employer and a pivotal part of the economy in the New River Valley. However, it has the same obligation to reduce, recycle and pay the full cost of its waste disposal as any other locality or company.
I guess the New River Resource Authority is so desperate for garbage and money that it would gladly convert to a hazardous waste dump to bring in more income. After all, that's what it's all about, folks. The arsenal could get public welfare money to pay for its waste problems, and the ill-conceived Resource Authority makes its money also. There are many other uses for $75 million in this valley than a hazardous waste dump/incinerator.
Another disturbing fact is the officials do not mention the environmental and health implications of tons of toxic emissions into the air and possible contamination of ground water from the ash left over from an incinerator.
A few points to consider:
Air emissions from incinerators can include dioxins, furans, benzene, chloroform, toluene and many other chemicals that affect the liver, lungs and central nervous system.
When "cocktailing," or mixing garbage and hazardous waste, many new toxic chemicals can form as products of incomplete combustion (PICs); thus area residents will be exposed to these.
The tons of leftover ash from an incinerator contains heavy metals and other contaminants. Environmental Protection Agency tests from 1986 indicate semi-volatiles and organics can be left over in the residue ash. And once it's dumped, it can contaminate ground water or the New River.
Incinerators are landfills in the sky. Reduction, recycling and elimination of waste are the solution to waste problems, not a better way to dump, burn or bury.
So, let's see. The arsenal wants the public to pay for this project, take the risk from the air emissions and the toxic ash dump. Let me get this straight: This is a benefit to the citizens of the New River Valley?
Incineration discourages waste reduction. An increase in capacity is a direct disincentive for waste elimination and reduction. By increasing incineration capacity, industry is insuring that waste will be produced.
In fact, more facilities increase the demand for waste. Once $75 million is sunk into a facility, you better believe the company will make sure it has local or out-of-state waste to fill its furnaces to get the so-called "cheap power" it may produce.
[E.K. "Skip"] Hurley of Hercules advocates the changing of federal law to accommodate burning garbage and hazardous waste together, and then claims that federal law prohibits private operators of federal facilities from accepting outside waste. What gives? Will this company change laws when needed to suit its operations?
I hope the residents of the New River Valley will not allow this debacle to occur. If the arsenal is "testing the water," the time is now to send the message that folks in this area will not tolerate becoming the region's dumping-burning disposal site.
We all must take responsibility for our waste and there are cheaper ways that utilize recycling and reduction.
This regionalization and shifting of waste from county to county, state to state, is not taking responsibility. You must know and control your local waste stream in order to have an efficient program. Tossing it in an incinerator won't make the issue or problems go away.\ Pete Castelli Citizens\ Clearinghouse for Hazardous Waste Floyd