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

DATE: SATURDAY, June 9, 1990                   TAG: 9006090402
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A-8   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: By Mary Bishop
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

ENVIRONMENTALISTS READY TO APPEAL NEW DIOXIN LIMIT

The Virginia office of the Environmental Defense Fund served notice Friday it will appeal the state's new limit on the amount of dioxin allowed in state waters.

When the State Water Control Board last month approved a 1.2 parts-per-quadrillion limit recommended by the paper industry, the environmental group accused the state of placating the industry at the expense of human health.

Virginia's dioxin level exceeds the standards suggested by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (0.013 ppq) and the state Health Department (0.06 ppq).

David Bailey, Virginia director of the Environmental Defense Fund, said Friday the EPA has rejected a 7.2 ppq standard in Georgia and will decide by month's end on the 1.2 ppq limit set in Maryland.

The environmental group filed a notice of appeal Friday in Richmond Circuit Court and has 30 days to file its appeal there. Bailey said his organization plans to file a petition against the Virginia standard with the EPA next week.

by CNB