DATE: Thursday, May 15, 1997                TAG: 9705150455

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B2   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Column 

SOURCE: Guy Friddell 

                                            LENGTH:   61 lines

BOY ASKS: ISN'T IT EASIER TO AVOID POLLUTION THAN CLEAN IT UP?

First-grader Mark Mulholland's interest in the environment helped prompt his father, John, to enroll his firm as a partner in the growing Elizabeth River Project.

In a seminar in Virginia Beach today from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., the project will offer 26 experts advising business leaders how to revive natural habitats and cut costs in reducing pollution.

As plant superintendent of Cargill Oilseed Processing in Chesapeake, John Mulholland is well aware of the needs of a cleaner environment. Cargill has a program, ``Water Matters,'' that encourages 75,000 employees at 800 facilities in 65 countries to care for rivers.

And young Mark has been asking simple but probing questions.

``We live in Chesapeake, and my son sees a lot of trees being removed. He asks me, `Why don't people plant trees instead of always cutting them down?' and, `Is it right that people pollute and we have to clean it up?' and, `Isn't it easier to avoid pollution than clean it up?'

``That drives it right home.''

Mark said Wednesday he has learned about the environment through watching Discovery and Animal World on TV and with his teacher in St. Gregory the Great Catholic School in Virginia Beach.

``Mrs. Hedley teaches us a lot,'' he said.

Teacher Lyn Hedley said they talk about the environment, and the class recently finished a unit ``about cleaning up God's world.''

As Mark was asking questions, John Mulholland received a letter inviting him to enroll Cargill with the Elizabeth River Project.

``The goals for Cargill and the project are the same,'' he said. ``It's a good feeling to have personal goals and company goals match. We want to say ahead of, not behind, environmental legislation.

``Each of our plants operates at Cargill standards or local standards, whichever is higher. In Third World countries without standards, ours take effect.''

Mulholland, who grew up on the water, knows its importance.

``The Elizabeth River is the lifeline through which we ship 90 percent of our product.''

Conferring with the project's experts, Mulholland plans to build a buffer of native plants and trees around the plant's perimeter to catch runoff from paved areas.

That will reduce the cost, he said.

``There will be no maintenance, nor will we have to spray pesticides. The plants will filter and use the nutrients and let the clean water run into the river.''

You look at your children, he said, ``and you realize you are looking to their future and to the future of their children. If we don't straighten out environmental ills, their futures will be diminished.''

Registration is still open today at the Holiday Inn Executive Center on Greenwich Road. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by BILL TIERNAN/The Virginian-Pilot

John Mulholland, plant superintendent of Cargill Oilseed Processing

in Chesapeake, poses with his son, Mark, whose interest in the

environment helped prompt his father to enroll his firm in the

Elizabeth River Project.

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