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

DATE: TUESDAY, September 20, 1994                   TAG: 9409220043
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RAY REED
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

PARKWAY CLEANUP PROGRESSING

Q: I was told the National Park Service had a lot of trouble clearing the Blue Ridge Parkway of the trees that fell during last winter's ice storms, and the parkway didn't have enough manpower funding. Is there anything the public can do about this?

D.L., Roanoke

A: The parkway did receive enough money to hire temporary workers, and two crews are within less than a mile of cleaning up the fallen branches.

They've been working through the summer, clearing the heavily damaged Roanoke Mountain loop road and more recently the Bent Mountain area.

Next will come removal of upturned stumps and root balls that could roll into the road during freeze-and-thaw cycles, said Richard Morefield, district ranger.

Oil tank's safe

Q: Is it necessary to dig up a home heating oil tank when it is no longer being used, or is there another environmentally safe way to deal with it?

V.C., Roanoke

A: A private homeowner isn't required to pull up the empty fuel tank, although it would be an environmentally friendly thing to do.

The state code requiring commercial establishments to remove unused tanks over 5,000 gallons does not extend to homeowners, Roanoke County and state officials said.

State environmental officials don't get involved with home oil tanks unless they're leaking.

Filling the tank with sand is an excellent alternative to digging it up.

If a tank is left empty with an eye to putting it in use later, an inspection by the building commissioner will be necessary then.

Discarded furniture

Q: I see a lot of used furniture and appliances lining the streets these days. Are the city's bulk trash pickup crews short-handed?

S.O., Roanoke

A: The crews aren't short-handed, said Jerry Chocklett of the city's solid waste management department.

Instead, large-item trash pickup has been complicated by concern for property ownership and litter-control laws.

Meetings have been held with some neighborhood groups about what to do when bulk items are left in a front yard, Chocklett said. The city hasn't developed a policy, though.

People occasionally move and leave furniture, appliances and all sorts of possessions. At first, neighbors aren't sure whether they've been abandoned.

Soon, the property owner may realize what has happened and call the bulk pickup office at 981-2225, or another resident may report it.

If the items' ownership isn't clear, someone from Chocklett's department has to check the situation and schedule a pickup, which may take two weeks or more.

And if small items are included in the trash, they have to be separated for a regular garbage collection, because clothing or paper could blow out of the open-bed truck used for large items.

In other cases, Chocklett said, appliances wait in front yards because people put a broken one outside and then call for a pickup, which may be scheduled for several days later. Large items shouldn't go to the curb until 7 p.m. before the scheduled date, Chocklett said.

Got a question about something that might affect other people, too? Something you've come across and wondered about? Give us a call at 981-3118.

by CNB