Introduction
From 1940 until 1989, the facility and 400-acre site currently known as the Avtex Fibers Superfund site in Front Royal Virginia (located 55 miles west of Washington, D.C.) employed over 2,500 people to manufacture rayon, polyester and polypropylene fibers for commercial, defense and space industries. American Viscose Corporation operated the plant from 1940 until 1963, when it sold the plant to FMC Corporation (FMC). In 1976, Avtex Fibers, Inc. purchased the plant from FMC and continued manufacturing operations until 1989, when Avtex closed the plant and declared bankruptcy. In June 1986, the site was listed on the Superfund program’s National Priorities List.

In 1998, the Economic Development Authority, the town of Front Royal and Warren County determined that once the environmental clean-up and building demolition is completed, the former Avtex site should become the next major business park in the community.

Funding and authorization was provided by Congress in 2000 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for work to include the removal of asbestos from buildings, lead from paint, building demolition, and debris removal and recycling. This work is not part of the EPA Superfund cleanup.

USACE funding ultimately totaled $23 million. Congressional appropriations for this project were spearheaded by Virginia Senator John Warner and Congressman Frank Wolf (R-10 th Dist).

USACE is currently working the fourth and final phase of this project. The final demolition of buildings and removal and recycling of material is scheduled for completion in June 2006.

More detailed information can be found within this website. New information is posted periodically as it becomes available.

For questions or comments please e-mail to Al Opstal, Project Manager, Norfolk District: Al.Opstal@usace.army.mil