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

DATE: THURSDAY, May 24, 1990                   TAG: 9005240429
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: MADELYN ROSENBERG NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: PULASKI                                LENGTH: Medium

CREEK, LAKE FISH SAFE TO EAT, OFFICIALS SAY

The state Water Control Board recently tested three types of fish after months of monitoring heavy metals that have been leaching into the creek water from the old Allied Chemical plant.

The plant closed in 1976, but left behind chemical piles that contain metals including lead, selenium, iron and zinc. Runoff on the piles carries the waste into the creek and turns the water a rusty red.

Results from the fish tests were turned over to the health department last week and officials completed their analysis Wednesday afternoon.

"Based on this data, it appears the fish are safe to eat," said Margaret Robinson, director of the New River Valley Health District.

The metals in the fish tissue were compared with drinking water standards, Robinson said. There are no legal limits for chemical contaminants in fish except for mercury.

"The metals are either below detection levels as determined by the lab or below the levels found in drinking water," she said. "People can still eat the fish, swim in the lake and use the lake for recreation purposes."

But some New River Valley residents still were being cautious.

"I'm concerned," said Richard Stanford, spokesman for the Triangle Bassmasters, a fishing club. "As long as that stuff's in the lake, I'm going to be a little leery."

Lake and creek users have been waiting anxiously for results from the fish tests since the state Water Control Board took the samples April 23.

Stanford said he often gets calls from anglers asking whether they can eat what they catch.

Chris Clark, who goes fishing with his father almost every weekend, said he's thrown back into the lake every fish he's caught this spring.

"We used to bring them home and eat them," Clark said. "But everybody's saying that the stuff in the water could mess up the fish. We've been afraid it would make us sick."

Clark, 17, said now that the health district has determined the fish are safe, he'll probably bring them home for dinner again.

The Control Board tested carp, a fish that usually feeds on the bottom of lakes and creeks, along with bluegill and bass.

"We are pleased with the results thus far," Robinson said. But she said the Water Control Board has agreed to do more testing, this time of larger and older fish.

Officials from the regional control board, who have been monitoring the pollution so far, referred all phone calls Wednesday to the board's enforcement division in Richmond.

Charles Stitzer, an enforcement specialist, confirmed that board and health department officials had a meeting Wednesday, but said he was not yet aware of the results of the meeting.

"More fish tests would not be unusual," he said. "This way they could look for possible trends and see if it's gotten any worse."

Stitzer said Peak Creek became an enforcement matter earlier this week when his office sent a hearing notice to Downtown East Inc., the limited partnership now owning the Allied site.

The partnership had been told to stop the metals from entering the creek by April 30, but no action was taken by the deadline.

H.W. Huff Jr., general partner in Downtown East, said he hired a consultant to look into the problem. "We are aware of the situation and we are working on the problem."

Bob Dobyns, one of eight limited partners in Downtown East and a former delegate representing Pulaski County, declined to comment this week on the pollution but said he thinks everyone in the partnership is concerned about it.

"I think it will be handled," he said. "I believe something will be done. I don't think anybody wants to let it go." Stitzer said his office received a soil erosion and sediment control plan from Downtown East on Monday. "It's under review now," he said. "Things are still up in the air."

The plan contains potential conflicts with regulations of the Department of Waste Management, which also is investigating the pollution, Stitzer said. Both agencies are reviewing the plan in hopes of reaching an agreement and stopping the runoff before the hearing.

"If we can't work something out to protect the environment now, we expect to have a hearing on the 25th [of June]," he said. "The company is being cooperative. It appears they will try to work something out before then."