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

DATE: SUNDAY, February 10, 1991                   TAG: 9102110269
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: B-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

IN BOTETOURT/ DUST CASE DRAGS ON

IF YOU THINK the mills of the gods grind slowly, you haven't clocked the state Department of Air Pollution Control. It's had complaints since 1971 about dust escaping from the Weblite Corp.'s concrete-block plant in Botetourt County. It's documented air-pollution violations there since 1972. It issued Weblite a violation notice in 1987 for putting in equipment not allowed under an old state permit.

What's happened? Essentially nothing. Weblite goes on allegedly polluting. Company and agency each accuse the other of stonewalling, of failing or refusing to furnish data each side says it needs to resolve the dispute.

The regulators say Weblite lacks adequate pollution controls and that its emissions and fugitive dust exceed state standards. The company says the state hasn't demonstrated that the plant violates regulations and that it would cost the firm a lot of money to prove it's in compliance.

Robert W. Saunders, field-work manager in the department's regional office for 11 years, says he knows of no other air-pollution charges under his jurisdiction that have gone unsettled so long. If he does not get a detailed response from Weblite, he adds, he'll ask the Board of Air Pollution Control to hold a hearing. If the board orders Weblite to cooperate and the company doesn't, he'll sue. If he does, it'll be the first time his office has taken an alleged violator to court.

That's a lot of ifs - too many for a proceeding that by now has grown whiskers. Weblite may be polluting the air around Blue Ridge. Or it may be the innocent victim of bureaucratic harassment. Either way, the case should be promptly decided. The state should not have let this drag out. It's not fair to the people who've complained. It hurts the regulators' image and encourages other alleged violators to use delaying tactics. Get on with it.

by CNB