THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 27, 1996 TAG: 9606280661
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: 53 lines
Virginia factories have reported a 63 percent drop in the toxic chemicals they released between 1987 and 1994, according to state officials.
``The strong downward trend in releases shows Virginia businesses are serious about improving the environment,'' Thomas L. Hopkins, director of the Department of Environmental Quality, said Tuesday. ``All these reductions are voluntary, and the progress is encouraging.''
Part of the drop, however, reflected a change in record-keeping requirements that eliminated what used to be Virginia's most reported toxic pollutant - Acetone.
Acetone was the top chemical released in the state in 1993, at 12.2 million pounds. But the federal government dropped it after determining that it isn't as toxic as once believed.
Albert Pollard Jr., a lobbyist for the Sierra Club in Virginia, called the release figures misleading.
``It's like my saying my grade point average went up without my saying I dropped Latin, calculus and microbiology,'' he said.
Under a 1986 federal law, manufacturers are required to disclose the amounts of about 340 toxic chemicals they discharge. The chemicals have been linked to cancer, reproductive problems and other health effects.
The substances include metals such as lead and copper, various solvents and other pollutants such as arsenic and ammonia.
The public reports of toxic releases are designed to encourage industries to reduce pollution voluntarily.
The program ``has provided an incentive for factories to get their numbers down and not be at the top of the list'' of toxic dischargers, said Lois Epstein, an engineer with the Environmental Defense Fund.
The 1994 figures, the most recent available, show Virginia factories released 71.6 million pounds of toxic pollutants, down from 85.2 million pounds in 1993. In 1987, the total was 195.8 million pounds.
Virginia ranked 15th nationally in toxic discharges in 1994. Virginia was 13th in 1993.
The Westvaco Corp. paper mill in Covington led the state in releasing toxic pollutants.
Robert G. Crockett, a Westvaco spokesman, attributed the position to reporting requirements, ``not Westvaco's continuing commitment to protect the environment.'' ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
TOXIC RELEASES
The 1994 figures show Virginia factories released 71.6 million
pounds of toxic pollutants, down from 85.2 million pounds in 1993.
In 1987, the total was 195.8 million pounds.
KEYWORDS: WATER POLLUTION by CNB