ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, April 3, 1990                   TAG: 9004030510
SECTION: A-10 EDITORIAL                    PAGE:    EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

ENVIRONMENT HURT FOR FINANCIAL GAIN

IN A NATION beset with controversial issues, some - such as those dealing with the preservation of our natural environment - should be beyond controversy. One such issue concerns acceptable dioxin levels in Virginia's natural waters.

According to your March 20 article, the Environmental Protection Agency has set the acceptable dioxin level at 0.013 parts per quadrillion. The Virginia State Water Control Board has postponed setting a statewide standard after opposition to its proposed standard of 1.2 ppq. This is 92.3 times greater than the EPA standard.

Where is the controversy? Why is there a discrepancy in the "acceptable standard"? Because, as happens so often when environmental legislation comes to a vote, special-interest groups compromise environmental efforts in the name of regional (and personal) economy, national defense, etc., etc. In the case of dioxin levels, these special-interest groups are Virginia's bleached-board paper mills. The Westvaco plant in Covington is one such mill in our area.

It appears to me the question when dealing with dioxins is not "How much?" but "Why any?" How long are we going to degrade our environment in order to maximize financial gain? STEPHEN A. WRIGHT TROUTVILLE 


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