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

DATE: TUESDAY, May 1, 1990                   TAG: 9005010244
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By MADELYN ROSENBERG NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: PULASKI                                LENGTH: Medium

DEADLINE TO CORRECT DRAINAGE MISSED

Downtown East Inc., the limited partnership that had been given until the end of April to correct a runoff problem blamed for leaching heavy metals into Peak Creek, did not take action by the Monday deadline, officials from the state Water Control Board said.

Board officials inspected the old Allied Chemical plant site Monday afternoon, said Kip Foster, technical services supervisor.

Downtown East is current owner of the plant site where metals including lead, copper, iron and selenium have been leaching into the creek since the mid-1970s.

"They haven't done anything. There's been no progress," Foster said.

Downtown East was told in March to install runoff diversion ditches that would keep the metals from draining into the creek. But a lawsuit concluded in March that Pulaski Mall, which is located near the plant site, was responsible for some of the runoff problems.

Mall owners were told by the court to correct the problem, even if it meant building a drainage system. But the control board has issued its letters and warnings to Downtown East, Foster said.

A spokesman for Downtown East said in April that his company would take care of the situation in a responsible manner.

"We're aware of the situation," he said. "We're working on it."

Downtown East officials were out of town Monday and not available for comment.

Foster said board officials will discuss possible penalties and solutions over the next few weeks. They are expected to come up with a course of action in time for a June board meeting.

"I don't know what direction we're going to take," Foster said.

by CNB