BLACKSBURG, Va. – More air quality testing is scheduled in the New River Valley after the community expressed concern over the open burning of waste at the Radford Army Ammunition plant.
The Department of Environmental Quality will install a new air quality monitor near Belview Elementary School at the Blacksburg sanitation station.
Specifically, the monitor will be used to detect airborne lead and other metals.
For years, community activists have been concerned about the close proximity of Belview Elementary School to the open burn sites at the arsenal.
To date, there has been no information or data collected to show that the air surrounding the arsenal is harmful to people or the environment. Regardless, there has been ongoing community concern.
Last week, the arsenal commander, Lt. Col. James Scott, who took over in June, released the latest test results after flying drones over the open burn sites.
Those results were regarded as positive from the arsenal's standpoint, but did show slightly higher than expected levels of lead along with other metals.Those levels, however, are not deemed unsafe or harmful to the public in any way and are compliant with all EPA regulations and permits.
Bill Hayden, a spokesman for the Department of Environmental Quality, said he thinks new data collected from the monitor will put the public's mind at ease.
"We believe that once this data becomes available, it's going to demonstrate that there really are no concerns, healthwise or environmentally. We are looking forward for people to be able to get that information,” Hayden said.
"Our information over the years is that there have been no environmental or health concerns from the open burning grounds. But when we have an actual monitor in the area, that will be just additional information to confirm that,” he said.
The project will cost $26,000 and is expected to be installed and operational by November.
The money was provided by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency through a grant.