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

DATE: TUESDAY, May 11, 1993                   TAG: 9305110252
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C4   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: RICK LINDQUIST STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD                                LENGTH: Medium

NEW TOWN AIRS POLLUTION COMPLAINT TO RADFORD COUNCIL

City Council will attempt to help clear the air in the wake of discharges last month from the New River Castings plant that apparently damaged dozens of cars and other property in the city's New Town neighborhood.

Dissatisfied with what they perceive as a lack of response from Intermet, which owns the plant, and the state Air Pollution Control Board, a contingent of New Town residents showed up at council's meeting Monday.

They asked council for "help and guidance" in resolving the controversy.

Mayor Tom Starnes asked council to formally invite representatives of the state Air Pollution Control Board and Intermet to a future council meeting.

One resident, John Hannifin, said the fallout blemished finishes of an estimated 33 vehicles. "The stuff that came out of the stacks cannot be washed or waxed," he told council.

Hannifin said after the meeting that New Town has suffered incidents of particle fallout in the past, but "this is the worst one yet."

Hannifin said Intermet representative Mark Fink told owners to take their vehicles to shops for evaluation and that he would get back in touch with them.

Damage was not limited to vehicles. A spokeman for Ferguson Enterprises Inc., a west-end plumbing-supply house, said 73 of its bathing units stored outside suffered pitting. He told council the material seemed to have melted into the surface of the units.

Another resident, Tony Jimenez, said New Town families had health concerns, too. "What we're concerned about is: What is this stuff and is it harming us?" he said. Jimenez said he had run through three air conditioners in the 20 years he's lived in the neighborhood. "And you can't keep a metal building," he added.

Jimenez said later that the fallout was "like a big dust storm."

Larry Amy of the city engineer's office said he was contacted by New Town residents soon after the discharges occurred on April 24. He said he'd been in touch with the Roanoke office of the Air Pollution Control Board and with Intermet, which blamed a "bag house problem" for the fallout.

"As of today, I don't know what the status is," he said.

Amy said state air-pollution permits include provisions for excessive discharges for brief periods.

City Attorney John Spiers said the Air Pollution Control Board's authority exceeds the city's on air-pollution problems.

City Manager Robert Asbury suggested that New Town residents file complaints directly with Intermet. "The city of Radford can't file in your behalf," he said.

Asbury also recommended that residents put complaints in writing. "It's easy to be forgotten if you're not on record," he said.

Hannifin reminded council that it intervened on Intermet's behalf last year when the company was applying for state permits during an expansion project. "Why can't you do the same for us?" he asked.

Intermet representatives were unavailable for comment.

by CNB