Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 2, 1995 TAG: 9502020060
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CATHRYN McCUE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SALTVILLE LENGTH: Medium
People here know it simply as ``pond 5.''
``There it is,'' said Michael McAllister to no one in particular, nodding his head at the familiar sight.
Like many in the audience of about 100 at Northwood High School, McAllister used to work for Olin Corp., once the economic lifeblood of this small mountain town.
On Wednesday, they came to a public hearing in this former company town to see how the Environmental Protection Agency plans to clean up the 80-acre dump and two other contaminated sites - the legacy of a century of industrial prosperity.
EPA project manager Russel Fish gave an hourlong presentation of the history of the site and the federal government's $57 million plan to clean it up for good.
``It's important to know that there's no immediate risk at the Saltville Superfund site,'' he said. Under a consent agreement, Olin has spent millions to stanch the flow of water through the sites to the North Fork of the Holston River, where a fish-eating ban has been in effect for 20 years.
McAllister sat in the second row because he is hard of hearing. But over the public address system, every ``p'' popped, every ``b'' boomed, so he didn't catch much of what Fish said.
Only three people asked questions, and only a few made comments.
One was Olin's project manager, Jim Brown, who strongly objected to the EPA plan. The company says its own plan will protect human health and the environment, and will cost less than half as much as the government's plan.
``I'm kind of ambiguous about it. I go one way and then the other,'' said Janice Barbrow after the meeting. ``I don't think there's a simple answer.''
Barbrow, the town's librarian, thinks the pollution is probably not as bad as the EPA says, but probably worse than what Olin makes it out to be.
Her friend, Jean Donnelly, has more definite feelings.
``I think Olin is ducking the issues,'' Donnelly said. ``They think the people in Saltville are vulnerable.''
Harry Haynes, a lifelong resident of Saltville, said people left the hearing with a lot more questions than answers. The main concern was the EPA's plan to dig up dirt from the site of a former chlorine plant, haul it to a kiln-like facility, burn off the mercury, then haul the dirt back to the site.
Many in the audience seemed concerned that this process, called retorting, would produce mercury emissions. They also didn't like the idea of thousands of dump trucks rumbling through their town carrying hazardous waste.
``It's a great concern to all of us who live here in the 'toxic corridor' of Southwest Virginia,'' said Haynes, referring to the stretch of Interstate 81 where many factories are located.
EPA spokesman Patrick Gaughan said the public comment period on the proposal would be extended by a month, to March 17. After that, the agency will determine the best cleanup plan and negotiate another consent order with Olin.
Olin officials estimate that work won't begin on the site for another several years.
Memo: NOTE: Shorter version ran in Metro edition.