Resumen de The Avtex Saga: National Security versus Environmental Protection

Susan Groves, Frank A. SettleJr.

• The production of rayon at Front Royal, VA, from 1939 to 1989 is an interesting case study of the tension between national security interests and environmental protection. The production of rayon generates a large volume of potential air and water pollutants. It brought a series of powerful local employers manufacturing a product deemed essential for the nation's defense into conflict with state and federal environmental agencies. The resolution of this conflict took more than 50 years but it has resulted in the conversion of a Superfund site into a setting for business and recreational activities that contribute to the local economy.