Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 18, 1992 TAG: 9202180300
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARK MORRISON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
BOTETOURT MULLS ZONING CHANGE
After two previous setbacks, the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors is exploring yet another angle in its attempt to block Tarmac's Roanoke Cement Co. from burning hazardous waste at its Botetourt cement plant.At its regular monthly meeting today in Fincastle, the board is expected to consider steps that would require Tarmac to obtain a special permit from the county before going ahead with its plan to burn hazardous waste. Currently, Tarmac is required only to have state and federal permits.
What the supervisors will look at is an amendment to the county zoning ordinance that would require a special-exceptions permit for burning hazardous waste as a substitute fuel at any cement kiln, boiler or industrial furnace located in Botetourt.
If adopted, the requirement would mean Tarmac would have to go through a lengthy public-hearing process and fight strong community opposition to persuade the supervisors to grant the permit. It would give the board some say-so in regulating such plans, where it now has none.
A Tarmac spokesman said the company will fight the move.
Previously, the board had made two attempts to establish some authority for itself in controlling hazardous-waste burning - first by having Tarmac identified by the state as a "solid-waste management facility" and then through the so-called "Bo Bill" at the General Assembly.
But both efforts were thwarted in recent weeks. The bill, sponsored by Botetourt Sen. Malfourd "Bo" Trumbo, D-Fincastle, would have given local governments control over the locations of hazardous waste-burning operations. However, it never made it past committee.
In having the cement plant labeled a "solid-waste management facility," the board had hoped to regulate its operations under existing state laws. But Attorney General Mary Sue Terry ruled last month that the plant doesn't meet the legal definition of such a facility.
Board members were reluctant Monday to commit to backing the latest attempt at garnering some authority over hazardous-waste burning. Supervisor Robert Layman, who represents the district where Tarmac is located and has been an outspoken opponent of its plan, said he wanted to wait until today's board meeting before making any decisions.
The board will be considering today only whether to schedule a public hearing on the proposed zoning amendment next month. Such a hearing is required in Botetourt before the zoning ordinance can be changed.
Tarmac now burns coal as its primary fuel in the production of cement at its Botetourt cement kiln and wants to switch to hazardous waste, which the company also will be paid to accept.
John Lambert, a spokesman for Tarmac, said Monday: "The company has a most valuable asset in that plant and would find it necessary to protect that asset. You can interpret that any way you want."