Mr. Bledsoe said his department

Mr. Bledsoe said his department would like to start with those property owners who would be having buildings taken as a part of the right-of-way acquisition process. “Mike Brown’s property — we’d like to make him number one (the first property owner contacted for negotiation),” Mr. Bledsoe said. “But because of the underground tanks, the EPA must' be involved to see if the soil is contaminated.”

Mr. Bledsoe explained that this was a new requirement, and that if the soil was contaminated it would have to be removed “to a place not yet determined. We have to clear up any matters regarding soil contamination before starting negotiation.” He said the EPA had been contacted about conducting its tests of the soil.

Mr. Brown, who owns B&B Servicenter, which includes a NAPA parts store, Shell gasoline station and auto repair business just east of Route 636, said Mr. Bledsoe had told him about the test for soil contamination, but “Mr. Bledsoe said not to worry about it. Let the EPA worry about it.” Mr. Brown said he wanted to work with the highway department to have a “smooth transition” from his current business to a newr location either behind the current station or to the east of it.

Mr. Browm said VDOT had tried to take the store seven or eight years ago. “They gave me 90 days to get out.” At that time Mr. Brown’s mother owned the property while he ran the business. He fought the takeover and won.

“I would have been ruined if I’d moved the business seven or eight years ago,” he said. Now Mr. Brown hopes to continue selling gasoline and auto parts from his location close to the existing highway until the last possible moment and relocate only the repair part of his business at first.

Disputes likely, money short

Meanwhile, at the other end of the first phase of the project, Loring