Elevated levels of PCBs (or polychlorinated biphenyls) have been found
in fish from the  Staunton River. Consequently the Virginia Department
of Environmental Quality will host a public meeting on Tuesday, August
7 at 6:30 p.m. in the Brookneal Elementary School to discuss a water
quality study of the Staunton (lower Roanoke) River.
The DEQ South Central Regional Office in Lynchburg has been studying
the water quality of the Staunton River from Altavista in Campbell
County to Clover in Halifax County. The PCB levels restrict the
consumption of some fish from the Staunton River. At the meeting in
Brookneal, DEQ will discuss the water quality study, monitoring efforts
and cleanup activities.
As part of the study, DEQ is working to identify sources of PCB
compounds. Initial testing indicates that at least three locations
require additional testing to identify possible PCB sources in the
river. These locations are Burlington Industries in Hurt, the Altavista
wastewater treatment plant and the Dan River plant in Brookneal.
In January 2006, DEQ took samples of water discharged from each
location. The total concentration of PCBs was 60.4 parts per trillion
in water discharged from Burlington Industries, 2.2 ppt in water
discharged from the Altavista wastewater treatment plant and 0.5 ppt in
water discharged from the Dan River plant in Brookneal. The maximum
allowable amount of PCBs in surface waters is 1.7 ppt under Virginia’s
water quality standards. To confirm these initial test results, DEQ
will conduct additional sampling in August 2007.
The Dan River plant stopped industrial operations in September 2006.
The Altavista treatment plant receives wastewater from BGF Industries.
The BGF Industries plant has been previously identified as a PCB
source, and DEQ continues to work with the company to address
contamination at the site.
In 2006, DEQ obtained fish tissue samples from the Staunton
River. Results from these tests indicate that PCB concentrations in
fish tissue ranged from 7 to 1,712 parts per billion, with the highest
amounts found near Clover. The Virginia Department of Health level of
concern is 50 ppb for PCBs in fish tissue.
Information from the study will be used to develop a total maximum
daily load for the Staunton River. A TMDL is the maximum amount of a
pollutant a water body can contain and still meet water quality
standards. To restore water quality, PCB levels have to be reduced to
the TMDL amount.
PCBs are chemicals that were used in electrical transformers and other
equipment until the late 1970s and can remain in the environment for
decades. Long-term exposure to PCBs may increase the risk of cancer.
The Virginia Department of Health recommends that high-risk individuals
such as pregnant women, women planning to become pregnant, nursing
mothers, infants, and young children should avoid eating
PCB-contaminated fish from advisory areas. A full list of fish affected
by the fish consumption advisory is available on the Virginia
Department of Health website at www.vdh.virginia.gov.