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

DATE: SUNDAY, July 10, 1994                   TAG: 9407100061
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium

EPA OKS TIMETABLE FOR RIVER CLEANUP PLAN

The Environmental Protection Agency has accepted Virginia's timetable for finishing a pollution-control plan for the Potomac River and other state rivers leading into the Chesapeake Bay.

Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia pledged two years ago to develop "tributary strategies" to reduce pollution in the major rivers feeding the bay.

Maryland, Pennsylvania and the district already have draft proposals for their rivers, but the change of governors from Douglas Wilder to George Allen delayed Virginia's action.

The Allen administration is also at odds with the EPA over vehicle emissions testing in Northern Virginia, and there was concern earlier this year that the state would pick a fight with the federal agency over the river cleanup plans.

But after a retreat Thursday and Friday in Port Deposit, Md., for environmental officials from the three bay states and the EPA, "that concern has vanished," said Peter H. Kostmayer, regional administrator for the EPA.

"This is a good plan that really is in the spirit of cooperation between Virginia and the federal government," Kostmayer said.

Bay activists were cautiously optimistic at the news that Virginia was back on track to complete its draft plan.

"We think it's an encouraging sign that the Allen administration has indicated an effort to move forward," said Joseph H. Maroon, Virginia executive director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

Sharon Adams of the Elizabeth River Project said the members of the Tidewater group were "really still in wait-and-see mode."

Under the timetable accepted Friday, Virginia will prepare a final plan for the Potomac and interim plans for the rest of its bay tributaries by April.

All plans are expected to re-examine the mix of voluntary and mandatory controls placed on farmers, businesses, industries, local governments and homeowners to control water pollution.

Michele Riedel, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Environmental Quality, said the plans will be based heavily on citizens' suggestion from public hearings beginning in September.

"Through the public participation process, we'll find out more about the feasibility and cost-effectiveness" of various plans, she said.

by CNB