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

DATE: THURSDAY, October 5, 1995                   TAG: 9510050050
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: SALTVILLE                                LENGTH: Medium

EPA, OLIN TO DECIDE ON PLANT'S CLEANUP

The Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday recommended measures aimed at cleaning up and containing the pollutants left behind by Olin Corp.

The plant site has been closed for more than 20 years and is one of the sites targeted by the EPA's Superfund for environmental cleanups.

The EPA's recommendation focuses on two storage ponds, one contaminated with mercury and the other with chlorine, agency spokesman Pat Gaughan said.

The proposed remedy for the mercury-polluted pond includes installing a system to prevent ground water from dispersing and bringing the discharge limit for the plant within state standards for mercury in surface water.

That proposal includes modifications to the plant, if necessary.

The EPA's recommendation for the other pond involves installing a permeable soil cover on the pond and the area where demolition debris from Olin's former chlorine plant is buried. Recommendations also call for a ``pH adjustment system'' that would neutralize discharges from the pond.

Before the actual cleanup begins, EPA officials and lawyers for the plant must agree on a plan of action, hire contractors to develop machinery to do the work, then put their proposals before a public hearing on the issue.

``At that time, we will inform residents that dirt is going to fly on such and such a date for cleanup of this phase,'' Gaughan said, adding that the preliminary process could take at least two years, if not longer.

Area residents have said they are worried about the proposed burning of mercury-contaminated dirt and debris.