In a significant development, Virginia is on the cusp of commencing a long-overdue study to determine the potential health impacts of coal dust from terminals in Norfolk and Newport News. The state Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is now accepting bids for the study, which has faced years of delays. The Lamberts Point terminal in Norfolk and the Southeast Community terminal in Newport News have been at the center of community health concerns.
The research, which is funded through a $526,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), will examine the air quality around these coal terminals and the potential for dust to affect local residents. The DEQ has already installed two smaller air monitors in the area as part of the preparatory work.
The new study will see three monitoring sites established in Norfolk, approved by the city council last Tuesday. These sites are located at the end of West 25th Street, near the fire station at 43rd Street and Hampton Boulevard, and at an open lot by the intersection of West 26th Street and Bowden's Ferry Road. They will house temporary stations for data collection over a period of 16 months.
In Newport News, two monitoring sites are also planned: one at the An Achievable Dream Tennis Center and another at the intersection of 31st Street and Wickham Avenue. These stations will gather particulate matter samples, with filters analyzed for toxic materials, including arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, and nickel. The DEQ will also conduct sampling for fine particulates and perform additional microscopic analysis.
Residents in both communities have long expressed concerns about coal dust from passing trains and its potential health effects. One mother shared her story with local media, explaining that her son developed asthma after moving to the Southeast Community, a neighborhood heavily affected by dust.
While previous studies have not conclusively linked coal terminals to health risks, they have raised concerns. A 2017 Norfolk study found particulate matter levels in the air were below federal thresholds and did not pose a public health risk. However, a 2005 Peninsula study noted a significantly higher asthma rate in the community compared to city and state averages, although it did not attribute this to coal dust.
The Lamberts Point terminal has been operational since 1885, while the Southeast Community coal terminals began operations in the 1880s. Both terminals are capable of handling millions of tons of coal annually, loading it onto cargo vessels for international shipping.
Despite the delays, the project is set to move forward, with construction commencing 60 days after the bid is awarded. The DEQ has faced several challenges in getting to this point, including approvals for monitor sites, the construction award process, and an EPA review of budget increases.
For residents of Norfolk and Newport News, the study's findings could have profound implications for their health and quality of life. As the project moves forward, the community eagerly awaits the results that could lead to significant changes in how coal dust is managed in the region.
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