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

DATE: THURSDAY, March 28, 1991                   TAG: 9103280379
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

DUMPING SUSPECTED IN FISH KILL

State and local authorities Wednesday were investigating whether illegal chemical-dumping led to a fish kill in the Roanoke River in Southeast Roanoke.

David Hoback, deputy coordinator of the city Department of Emergency Services, said dispatchers received a dumping complaint about 4 p.m.

Within 30 minutes, authorities were notified of dead fish in the river near Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

Hoback said a state game warden netted about 50 dead trout. Six of the fish were kept for analysis by a state lab.

"We want to see if the chemical we suspect caused the fish to die," Hoback said.

The person who called dispatchers said the chemical was being dumped by a business several miles upstream from where the fish were found.

Authorities searched the business Wednesday afternoon but found no evidence of illegal dumping, Hoback said.

Hoback said company officials voluntarily allowed authorities to enter their premises. He would not name the company or the type of chemical suspected.

The state Water Control Board was expected to enter the investigation.

Hoback said the dead fish seemed to be isolated to trout, which were strewn across the bottom of the river's murky water. That section of the river was stocked with trout about three weeks ago.

Authorities found no evidence that any other species had died.

by CNB