Keeping track of toxic matter
Tons of toxic substances released by area industry, military bases
Date published: 4/3/2008
By RUSTY DENNEN
Fredericksburg-area businesses and military bases together released tons of toxic substances into the air, water and land in 2006.
The annual Toxics Release Inventory, issued last week by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, includes information on a dozen area industries, power plants and federal facilities.
Across the state, more than 400 entities filed reports based on their size and amounts of toxic materials released. The 2006 figures are the latest information available.
Quantico Marine Base in Prince William and Stafford counties, and A.P. Hill in Caroline County, reported releases, though the Naval Support Facility at Dahlgren did not.
In the private sector, those releasing toxic substances included automotive, wood-products, manufacturing, chemical and petroleum businesses.
The toxic materials are among 650 on a federal list of substances that can cause cancer or other adverse health effects at significant concentration levels beyond the facility boundaries, cause cancer in humans or harm the environment if found in large quantities.
There are no imminent health threats present in the report, which DEQ officials say is useful to communities, industry and regulators.
Ed Hopkins, director of the Sierra Club's Environmental Quality Program in Washington, says the report, which first came out in 1988, is helpful.
"Citizen groups, states and others have used this information quite a bit," he said this week.
"People with concerns over pollution in their communities refer to the information. Health Departments have used it in exploring if there are unusual disease clusters. Companies have used the data to set goals on pollution reduction."
The report includes statewide releases of persistent bioaccumulative toxics, such as lead, mercury and dioxin-like compounds, which remain in the environment for long periods of time and can build up in living tissue.
View the full report: deq.state.va.us/sara3/3132006.html
MILITARY
Quantico Marine Base, Prince William and Stafford counties released 199,352 pounds of mostly nitrate compounds used in high explosives, and small amounts of solvents. Also, 281 pounds of lead compounds and copper were released at firing ranges.
Fort A.P. Hill in Caroline County released 2,712 pounds copper and lead compounds on its firing ranges.
MANUFACTURING
Carlisle Motion Control Industries Inc., Spotsylvania County, released 133,351 pounds of formaldehyde, phenol, copper and ammonia in producing heavy brake pads. The plant closed last September.
Fiberglass Engineering Co. in Fauquier County released 16,000 pounds of styrene in manufacturing process.
POWER PRODUCER
Emissions from Birchwood Power Facility's coal-fired power plant in King George County released 10,748 pounds of substances such as ammonia, mercury and sulfuric acid.
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ACROSS THE STATE
Approximately 66.3 million pounds of toxic materials were released by industry and government facilities in 2006, up 18.6 percent from 2005, according to the report.
The increase was largely due to one company, Alliant Tech Systems in Montgomery County, which had a significant release of one chemical in treated water during the reporting period.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:
The amount of chemicals transferred off-site to treatment facilities, recycling, energy recovery or disposal, was 69 million pounds--down 21 percent from 2005.
Chemicals managed on-site totaled 634 million pounds, up 40 percent from the last report. And the amount of chemicals recycled on-site was up 26 percent to 441.6 million pounds.
"Although facilities are managing more chemicals effectively with on-site recycling activities, they also are reporting more chemical releases," DEQ Director David K. Paylor said in a press release.
"These increases do not reflect the downward trend we have grown accustomed to in Virginia. Though many of the chemicals are permitted through the Commonwealth's regulatory programs, it is imperative that Virginia businesses and industry continue to reduce the amount of chemicals entering the environment."
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ADDITIONAL TOXIC RELEASES IN REGION
Caroline County--JCI Jones Chemicals, nine pounds chlorine
Culpeper County--Culpeper Wood Preservers, 250 pounds, copper compounds; Rochester Corp., nine pounds, lead, chromium, nickel, copper
Fauquier County--Quarles Petroleum Inc., Warrenton Bulk Terminal, 519 pounds, fuel emissions
Orange County--American Woodmark Corp., lead compounds, 30 pounds
Spotsylvania County--Quarles Petroleum Fredericksburg Bulk Terminal, fuel emissions, 511 pounds; Therma Tru Virginia Ltd., chemicals used in polyurethane manufacture, 3,473 pounds
Stafford County--FBI Training Academy firing range, lead compounds, copper, 55 pounds
Westmoreland County--Carry-On Trailer Corp., lead, glycol ethers, manganese, xylene, 6,731 pounds,
These numbers do not include toxic materials treated on-site or transferred elsewhere for recycling or disposal.
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Date published: 4/3/2008
Most recent reader comments:
What about all the chicken litter (full of arsenic and estergen-like hormones) that is being trucked out of the 'Doah Valley and dumped into the Rapidan and Rappahannock basin. It has lead to fish kills on the 'Doah and on the James. Is our drinking water supply next? Why doesn't DEQ track the chicken litter?
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