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

DATE: SATURDAY, May 29, 1993                   TAG: 9305290365
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

IN TOXIC DISCHARGES, VIRGINIA IS RANKED 14TH

A watchdog group says releases of toxic chemicals into Virginia waters by the state's factories top discharges in New Jersey and New York, two states traditionally viewed as heavy polluters.

"The statistics for the state of Virginia are staggering . . . making this state the 14th most toxic state for surface water discharges," Robert Gibbs, a spokesman for the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, said Thursday.

Virginia officials responded by saying factories' toxic releases have dropped sharply in recent years.

by CNB