VAAP (former TNT plant) in Chattanooga neighbors air health worries

[Guest guest]

http://www.timesfreepress.com/2001/apr/20apr01/WEBLN20VAAPmeeting.html

The Times Free Press on Friday, April 20, 2001

VAAP neighbors air health worries

By Judy Walton, Staff Writer

Neighbors around the Volunteer Army Ammunition Plant told government

officials Thursday they are worried about becoming sick from pollution at

the former TNT plant.

" I'm sure some of us are here because we're still drinking from wells, " said

Rob Conforti, who lives north of the plant at Waconda Point. " It's a matter

of some urgency for us. "

About 25 neighbors near the plant packed a meeting room to hear details of a

health study to be performed by the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and

Disease Registry, part of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Decades of making TNT at the plant left soil and groundwater contaminated

with explosives, heavy metals, lead, PCBs and other toxic chemicals. Some of

those chemicals have turned up in water outside the plant's borders.

Sue Neurath of the agency said her team will examine records to see where

the contaminants are, attempt to figure out if people could get sick from

them, and recommend ways to protect human health.

Donnie Couch, who lives off Bonny Oaks Highway, wondered whether the

agency's recommendations had any teeth.

Carole Hossom, also on the toxic substance agency's team, said they did.

" There has never been an Army site or a Navy site or an Air Force site where

our recommendations haven't been followed, " she said.

The Environmental Protection Agency requested the study. EPA recently took

over supervision of the cleanup at the site.

Several people at the meeting hoped for proof that the Army's TNT operations

caused cancer, lung disorders and other illnesses in their families. Ms.

Neurath said historical records probably would not be good enough to make

the case. The most the study will prove of past illnesses, she said, is a

statistical link.

" What it will not tell us is whether the ammunition plant caused cancer in

this community, " she said. " We don't have a crystal ball into the past. "

Some residents said they came to the meeting because they are concerned

about a private company's plan to transport and eventually produce sulfuric

acid at the Volunteer Site.

Xavier Chemical Co. has said its operation will be modern and safe. But

citizens, local government and state environmental regulators have filed

comments criticizing an environmental assessment of the proposal.

Errol Reksten of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Air Pollution Control

Bureau said Xavier has already received a permit to transport acid to the

site in rail cars and transfer it to tank trucks for area deliveries.

" How much time do we have left to derail them (the Army) from bringing those

companies in here? " Mr. Couch asked.

However, Ms. Neurath said the toxic substance agency's health study is

unrelated to Xavier's proposal. The chemical company's plan will be

regulated by the state Department of Environment and Conservation and EPA,

she said.

Bob Elmore, an environmental engineer who works for the Army at VAAP,

suggested the residents form a separate committee to deal with Xavier.

He said the company will have to hold public hearings before it can get

approval to start operations.

E-mail Judy Walton at jwalton@...