W-L asphalt plant in Wythe
County, VA
UPDATE:
In mid-Sept. 2003, just days before the plant
began operation, the Wythe Co. Board of
Supervisors passed an Emergency Ordinance to
include setbacks for asphalt plants. W-L sought
and received an injunction to operate. In
October, a judge in Wytheville ruled against the
Emergency Ordinance, thus allowing the portable
plant to operate. Currently, there are 81 asphalt
plants in Virginia. Of those, 13 are portable
plants and 68 are stationary. Although
surrounding states (that distinquish between
stationary and portable plants) require public
notification before relocating portable plants,
Virginia does not.
Wythe Environmental Action Group, a BREDL
chapter, is fighting the relocation of a
so-called "portable" W-L Construction
& Paving, Inc. asphalt plant along Black Lick
Rd. near Rural Retreat in Wythe County, VA.
W-L Construction & Paving would be allowed
to operate this asphalt plant for 18 months, then
they could request an extension of operation from
the Virginia Dept. of Environmental Quality.
This plant may be allowed to operate under a
permit that was issued on October 18, 1991 in
Scott County, VA.
1991 Scott County
permit emissions
| Pollutant |
1bs/hr |
tons/yr |
| Total Suspended Particulate |
10.2 |
3.2 |
| PM-10 |
7.2 |
2.3 |
| SO2 |
26.9 |
8.4 |
| VOCs |
19.2 |
6.0 |
| NO2 |
11.5 |
3.6 |
| CO |
11.5 |
3.6 |
Although not listed in the
above permit, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
(PAHs), Benzene, Formaldehyde, Arsenic, and
Cadmium are some of the Hazardous Air Pollutants
that would be emitted.
When citizens (now WEAG) and BREDL inquired about
the relocation, VA DEQ consistently replied that
they had not received notification to relocate an
asphalt plant in Wythe County. After a Freedom of
Information Act request, DEQ
"discovered" the notification. Read
BREDL and DEQ correspondence as well as the FOIA
information. (.pdf)
July 25, 2003: BREDL and WEAG cite numerous
flaws with DEQ’s approval of Wythe County
asphalt plant. Groups request DEQ to stop
relocation and re-open permitting process. Read Press
Release
July 25, 2003: BREDL and WEAG letter to Virginia
DEQ Director Robert Burnley requesting
determination of permit exemptions. (.pdf)
Sept. 02, 2003: BREDL and WEAG Appeal to Virginia
State Air Pollution Control Board regarding VA
DEQ determination of exemption for W-L asphalt
plant. (.pdf)
Asphalt
Plants
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