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ers to be able to take advantage of federal cost-share programs.
Sharon Kilpatrick asked about the leaching pollution at the abandoned Aileen Sewing Factory in Flint Hill. Mr. McCarthy explained it is being monitored by the government but the state is not saying anything about it. Organic solvents were used to clean the machinery and they were discharged into and on-site sewage facility that did not treat solvents, and they leaked out. The company is in federal bankruptcy court and the information is sealed.
“Is there nothing that can be done so they just watch it spread?” asked Mrs. Kilpatrick. “It is a long-term threat to the people in Flint Hill.”
Mr. Rice said organic solvents of this sort are expensive to clean up, requiring testing, designing a program and drilling wells. Below the surface the Piedmont geology is fractured with a long residence time for ground water. It may take as long as 20 years for the water to drain out.
An organic contaminant degrades into a metabolit which cn be perfectly harmless and other times is as bad or worse than the original, commented Karen Rice.
When pressed again why this information is not available and who one would contact, Mr. McCarthy said the D.E.Q. would be the place to go, but everything gets referred to the federal bankruptcy court and the federal judge is not responsive.
Tim Bondelid, a systems analyst who has done work as a consultant for the E.P.A. said most of the monitoring data is in the national data bases and can be accessed. He offered to help pull the data together.
The National Zoo in Front Royal has indicated that they are interested in helping the Rappahannock community, added Mr. Gilliam. They have an extensive laboratory that can handle accurate testing.
The discussion ended with examples of what a partnership between groups and education can accomplish. Hunt Harris, Kenner Love or John McCarthy can be contacted if you would like to help in this citizen water monitoring pro
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