The Radford Army Ammunition Plant holds last community meeting with residents

CHRISTIANSBURG, Va.- – Thursday night was the final community meeting with officials from the Radford Army Ammunition Plant for 2017. As expected, it was filled with questions and concerns about the quality of air and water in the New River Valley.
     
Commander of the plant, Lt. Col. James Scott says they are committed to transparency to clear up any miscommunications from residents. 

"If there is something we can do better to put more information and more data points out, I'll take that as a do out to make sure the numbers are posted and they can look at what they got. We are doing everything we can to make this community happy," said  Lt. Col. James Scott. 

In 2016, the plant conducted drone air quality testing over open burn sites. Several people here say they would like the drones to fly more often for testing to check the types of chemicals coming from the plant. 
     
Scott says plans to do it again are unlikely. 

"That was a huge partnership with NASA, EPA Research Triangle down in North Carolina, the University of Dayton and many partners with the Department of Defense and to get that to fly again here, I don't know the probability of that," said Scott. 

Another hot issue was the topic of when the energetic waste incinerator project will be completed. It will reduce the use of open burning that's been a point of concern for the public. 
     
"We are committed to getting the design done that's already been fully funded. The Department of Defense is fully committed to pay that money." said Scott. 

When plant officials meet with the public again next year, they're hoping to have a proposal to have the meeting not in the Christiansburg Public Library, but on post. They are also open to having outside experts to talk with residents about ongoing concerns.