Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, May 22, 1993 TAG: 9305220080
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-9 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RICK LINDQUIST STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
A contingent of unhappy New Town residents turned out May 10 to ask council's help with dusty airborne discharges from the First Street foundry. Residents and at least one business claimed the April 24 discharges had damaged vehicles and other property.
Mayor Tom Starnes asked city officials to invite all involved parties to a council meeting. Asked to appear was a representative of the Department of Environmental Quality's Roanoke Air Office, and a representative of Intermet Corp., which owns New River Castings.
Intermet says the problem - holes in dust-collector bags - has been fixed and that New River Castings is "working with local residents to correct any problems which may have occurred."
Among other questions, New Town residents want council to find out what was in the fallout and if it posed any health hazard. The residents also want to know if the discharge violated state air-quality standards and how plant emissions are monitored.
In other matters, City Manager Robert Asbury is expected to share with council a letter from Del. Tommy Baker, R-Dublin, about council's recent action cutting four full-time firefighter positions effective Jan. 1. "Several folks had called me," Baker said Friday. In his May 12 letter, he asked Asbury to "advise Council that there have been inquiries," but emphasized that he did not intend to "second guess" council's decision on the cuts. Baker said he stood "ready to help in any way possible at the state level" if council decided to reverse its position."
by CNB