Document 9189d7Y5wkMXZR8Ezm2RojMeL

MONROE, K. C. ENQUIRER-JOURNAt DAtLY 9,358 MJ6151S78 New PCB strip found? RALEIGH (AP) -- A fresh strip at oily liquid, believed to be the latest in a series ef PCB spills on the -------- *----------------------- -- state's roadways, was discovered Monday afternoon along a ttx-mile stretch of N.C. 42 near San Cord. According to state Highway Patrol Capt 0. R. McKinney, the new spUl was discovered along a section of road already posted with warnings. He said the new spUl Is about two feet wide. McKinney said officials suspect the spill is related to the strip has not been chemically tested. A tanker traveling the state's highways at night la suspected of polluting more than 250 mliaa of the state's roadsides with toxic PCBa, polychlorinated Mphenola. Officials said that had been reported in nearly Monday's spin was discovered lust as state en vironmental officials were meeting to try decide how dispose of the contaminated soil tn the spills. The of ficials, along with represen tatives of the Environmen tal Protection Agency, met in public end then held a private session, but filled to come up with a final pro posal for disposing of the thousands of gallons of PCBa. Robert Carter, head of the water quality division of the state Department of Natural Resources and Community Development, said officials were considering digging ooe to three Inches into the soil tn erase where PCB con tamination is above the tolerable level of 50b porta per million. "We have reached the point where something needs to be done," Carter said at the meeting. Carter said U the sod Is removed, a large area' of staleowned land would be needed for storage. He said no storage sites have been selected yet. But officials said they were also considering plac ing activated charcoal on the spills Instead of digging up the sties. Carter said the charcoal would "fix" or bind the PCBs, keeping it on (fee surface and preventing tlfrom beingwashed away. Carter said the charcoal treatment would skew the migration of PCB particles but would ml decentaminate them. an immediate medical risk," said Martin P lines, head of sptd--iislsgj Isrthe Department of Human Resources. "Wt don't even think walking on the grass, and expesme two or throe times, would poeee risk." However. Hines said Ms department la rnwkrirtag taking Mood and urine samples from people In the area of the apWs as a precautionary measure. Hines said rrsramhsri have found that the PCBa are a type manufactarod hi the late Mbs fay Mamanto Chemical Corp. They were used as a hrsttrsnoaiHring aagent In seeking substances such as fish meal, and In siactrtud transformers and capacitors, he said. Hines said stale aMdate are attempting to cmtact Monsanto for informationon who might have been wring the chemical.