THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 15, 1994 TAG: 9406150491
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: 940615 LENGTH: GAINESVILLE, VA.
Disney has been under attack by environmentalists and other groups who say the American history park would add to air and water pollution and traffic gridlock, strain sewage treatment and destroy nearby historic sites.
{REST} Disney pledged to ``avoid adverse environmental impact where possible, minimize adverse impacts by careful planning and best management practices, and mitigate the impact that does occur.''
The company said it was committed to the goals of the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act, including no net increase in nutrients from stormwater runoff.
And it said it would implement a program to reduce the use of pesticides that could enter tributaries to the bay.
On Monday, an environmental group said the park would severely strain the sewage treatment system in Prince William County, leaving customers with a huge bill for improvements. ``If Disney is built, projects already approved will be stopped or the Prince William County ratepayers will get stuck with a multimillion-dollar sewage expansion bill,'' said Marie Kulick of Clean Water Action.
Dana Nottingham, director of development for Disney's America, told a news conference that the park also would take steps to minimize waste, conserve water, preserve critical habitat, wetlands and open space on its site and protect valuable historic resource areas.
``This statement is a mandate to our own designers and managers to meet a standard of environmental excellence that goes beyond the requirements of law,'' he said. ``It is also a firm public commitment to be good neighbors, responsible developers, and faithful environmental stewards.''
``It is unreasonable to argue that the alternative to Disney's America is the status quo,'' he said. ``The region is going to grow. The issue is what kind of growth. Disney's America offers quality, managed growth that will improve the quality of life for the people of Prince William County.''
The Piedmont Environmental Council issued a report saying the estimated cost of handling Disney-related sewage treatment requirements would be between $33 million and $50 million, which the group said would come from the county's wastewater ratepayers.
Disney's America spokeswoman Mary Anne Reynolds said Prince William had planned improvements to sewage facilities before the project was announced and ratepayers would not have to pay for added capacity because of the park.
{KEYWORDS} DISNEY AMERICA ENVIRONMENT by CNB