Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, January 27, 1992 TAG: 9201280129
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
CLOSE MONITORING FOR BOTETOURT WASTE DISPOSAL
THE KIM-STAN fiasco is just another example of how "the organization" spots a quick buck, moves in and out very rapidly, and leaves the taxpayers and locals to bleed and grieve.I don't blame Judge Michael. After all, "they" have the best attorneys money can buy. It's the perfect set-up: Mr. "Get Rich Quick" from Wise takes the fall. Mr. "Evasive" from up North has ridden into the sunset with the money and books.
All the laws we have can't seem to touch them any more or any faster than they did the snake-oil merchants who controlled our savings and loans before the big bail-out.
I'm not saying that Tarmac is in any way offering the people of Botetourt and Roanoke counties "the voice of Jacob and the hand of Esau." But when a business gets loose and lucrative enough, "they" always seem able to inject themselves into the grand finale in time for the payoff. Waste disposal is a lot bigger business than mining and manufacturing cement, so a sideline this waste disposal ain't!
Because this is a good concept in waste management and could be a money-saver for Botetourt County's largest industry, let's look at it. I feel we must examine it very closely, however, and never give full control here to any one entity.
Because of the nature of the materials processed, I feel that this facility should at least be subject to constant monitoring from the transportation in, to the materials, the emissions (stacks) and on to the waste-disposal pit. This should be financed by the facility and carried out by qualified, disinterested personnel. Without this unrestricted monitoring, the people subject to the possible ill effects have no recourse except a long, expensive court fight against a corporate giant. BOB WAID FINCASTLE