Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 22, 1990 TAG: 9003222147
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MADELYN ROSENBERG NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
Among the metals of concern are lead, copper, zinc and selenium, said Larry Willis, a regional biologist who wrote the report for the board.
So far, there are no reported health problems related to the metals, which are giving the creek a reddish tint. "There could be people who have problems we don't know about," Willis said.
Willis said most of the metals are in the creek's sediments, not the water. He said the state does not have a large sampling of sediment from other creeks and streams.
Right now, a primary concern is fish in the stream and in Claytor Lake.
The board is scheduling samples of fish tissue to be taken next month. "We don't consider it an emergency situation, but it is something we do want to find out more about," Willis said.
He said there are few fish and animals in or near the creek below Pulaski. "There's no healthy population of anything," he said. "The only organisms we ever see there are resistant and in low numbers. They probably don't stay very long."
The discharge of metals in the creek dates back to the mid-1970s, but recent construction at the old Allied Chemical plant has opened up new drainage ways that have added more color to the water, Willis said. The old problems never really were fixed, he said.
Willis said waste from other factories has been discharged into the stream, but the bulk of the problem seems to come from the Allied property. Current property owners have been given 10 days to clean up the waste, he said.
"We've got to stop any more from getting into that stream," he said.
"We have reason to believe now that there are other metals we should test for."
by CNB