ROANOKE HALTS RIVER TESTS

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

DATE: FRIDAY, February 5, 1993                   TAG: 9302050036
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
ROANOKE HALTS RIVER TESTS
The Roanoke River flood-reduction project faces another potential delay.
Environmental tests on property that will be needed for the project have been halted until federal and state agencies determine the level of hazardous material that will be permitted along the river.
Kit Kiser, director of utilities and operations for the city, said there are no current guidelines to determine whether toxic or hazardous materials would have to be removed before grading begins on the $34 million project.
Kiser said Thursday that the city is trying to arrange a meeting with representatives of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the state Department of Solid Waste Management.
"Until we know what the standards will be, there is no reason to keep spending money on tests," Kiser said. "We don't know what we are dealing with and what we might have to do."
City officials have been trying to arrange the meeting for several weeks. They have sought the help of U.S. Sen. John Warner, R-Va.
Because of the change in presidents, Kiser said, the city is not sure which EPA officials will handle the issue.
Preliminary tests have identified several sites where toxic or hazardous materials might be buried. Those include the old American Viscose plant in the Roanoke Industrial Center, the former Tinker Creek landfill and Appalachian Power Co.'s substation near Ninth Street.
There are other sites, but city officials have refused to identify them.
If there are hazardous materials or underground fuel leaks, they could be uncovered when the river channel is being graded and widened.
The city hired consultants to conduct the tests; the second round has been halted until standards are established.
Depending on the outcome of the tests, city officials have said, parts of the flood-reduction plan might have to be redesigned.
The city wants to determine the condition of the property it will acquire because it could be liable for environmental damage caused by the joint project with the Army Corps of Engineers.
Kiser has said that the sites where toxic or hazardous materials might be buried do not pose any danger.
Construction is scheduled to begin in early 1994 and be finished by 1997.
Kiser said it's too early to say whether the timetable will have to be pushed back.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB