THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, April 19, 1995 TAG: 9504190467
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B9 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SCOTT HARPER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
Helen Pearson curses the federal government and its Superfund program for not doing enough to help clean up a toxic waste dump near her home in Washington Park.
But Tuesday, given the choice of the Republican ``Contract With America'' or more of the same under Superfund, Pearson found herself defending her old nemesis.
``(Superfund) hasn't been much help to us, that's for sure,'' said the feisty leader of the Washington Park Lead Coalition. ``But at least we know they're there; at least it's something.''
Such was the sentiment of a small but spirited protest outside the abandoned Abex metalworks plant, deemed so toxic in 1988 that it was added to the federal Superfund list, which is a roster of the worst dumps in the nation.
Carrying signs and pamphlets, the protesters argued that parts of the Republican contract to revamp environmental programs will gut them instead.
They urged the Senate to block the legislative package, known as HR 9, when members reconvene next week after their spring recess.
Linda King, executive director of the Environmental Health Network, an activist group in Chesapeake, called HR 9 ``the biggest threat to the environment and to public health and safety in the 25 years we've been fighting for these protections.''
The protest was held in conjunction with similar rallies across the country, all intent on drumming up public opposition to the package.
The timing of this campaign also is strategic, coming just five days before the 25th anniversary of Earth Day is celebrated on Saturday.
The first Earth Day, in 1970, is considered the beginning of the environmental movement, which helped win passage of scores of national laws geared toward greater protection of air, water, soil and natural resources.
The Superfund program was created in 1980, and has been lambasted by critics as ineffective and wasteful.
According to the Competitive Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank in Washington, Superfund has cleaned up fewer than 20 percent of the 1,200 hazardous waste sites in the program.
Under the Republican contract, states would be given greater control of the program, companies responsible for cleaning up their toxic messes would face fewer risks of lawsuits and liability, and listing a potential site would be much harder because of stricter qualifications.
While protesters warned that cleanup plans for sites as old as Abex could be scrapped if the Republican measure passes, lawyers and congressional aides said they doubt any retroactive action.
``I think they have a legitimate reason to keep the heat up on the ``Contract With America,' '' said Portsmouth environmental attorney Susan Taylor Hansen, ``but I think they picked the wrong site for their protest. . .
Hansen, who represents the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority, which runs Washington Park, said plans for more cleanup work at the housing project off Effingham Street remain on track and are soon expected to clear remaining hurdles.
Peggy Wilhide, press secretary for Virginia Sen. Charles Robb, said her boss has not yet taken a position on remaining pieces of the contract, including those affecting Superfund.
She noted, however, that the strict versions which passed the House of Representatives ``certainly have room for improvement.''
Robb supported another piece of HR 9 that already has passed both houses of Congress, Wilhide said. The so-called unfunded mandates bill bars the federal government from approving new programs for state implementation if money to do so is not included.
Sen. John Warner could not be reached for comment on the Republican environmental package. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by BETH BERGMAN/
Brenda Smith of Virginia Beach, center, joined a rally protesting HR
9, which protesters fear will gut theSuperfund program. Playing in
the background is Melvin Cross-Mills, who lives in Washington Park.
His mother, Gladys Cross-Mills, is active in the Washington Park
Lead Coalition.
KEYWORDS: SUPERFUND by CNB