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

DATE: TUESDAY, March 31, 1992                   TAG: 9203310342
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

$92,500 FINE OK'D FOR WELL POLLUTION

The State Water Control Board agreed Monday to accept $92,500 from the ITT Electro-Optical Products Division in Roanoke County for contamination of ground water caused by leaking underground tanks that stored chemical waste solvents.

The leak has contaminated nine drinking-water wells in the area. ITT also agreed to repay Roanoke County for any costs it incurs in cleaning up the wells.

A tank containing trichloroethylene (TCE), acetone and methanol was dug up at the plant in 1983. Test wells dug in December showed TCE remained in the ground.

In February, tests confirmed that water in a well supplying the neighboring Tinkerview Trailer Court contained 400 times the acceptable level of TCE. Sixteen other wells were sampled, and half were found to be contaminated with the chemical - although not at levels as high as those found in the trailer court's well.

by CNB