State continues Staunton River cleanup

Staff and wire reports
Published: July 16, 2008

State environmental officials continue to clean up the Staunton River.

The state Department of Environmental Quality has announced it will hold a public meeting July 29 in Altavista on its river study and cleanup efforts.

DEQ scientists have found fish between Altavista and Clover, in Halifax County, contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs. The levels have led health officials to suggest limits on fish consumption.

The DEQ South Central Regional Office in Lynchburg has been working to identify sources of the PCBs. The focus includes waterways in Altavista and in the area of a tributary of the Staunton River in Brookneal.

The DEQ found an average concentration of 19.2 parts per trillion of PCBs in water discharged from Burlington Industries in Hurt in 2006 and 2007. Last year, a concentration of 9.9 parts per trillion was found in the Altavista wastewater treatment plant discharge.

The state water quality standard for PCBs in surface water is 1.7 parts per trillion. One part per trillion is equivalent to one drop of water in 20 Olympic-size swimming pools, according to state DEQ news release.

The July 29 meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the Altavista YMCA.

What are PCBs?

PCBs are chemicals that were used in electrical transformers and other equipment until the late 1970s and can remain in the environment for decades.

The state health department recommends that pregnant women, nursing mothers, infants and young children avoid eating PCB-contaminated fish from advisory areas.