County weighs future of Blockhouse Valley land
Anderson County leaders are taking steps to plan the future of the former American Nuclear property on Blockhouse Valley Road and adjoining public land.
Mayor Terry Frank told the Operations Committee on Nov. 10 that the effort will require meetings with stakeholders and likely an assessment of the site and any long-term monitoring needs.
At the Nov. 17 County Commission meeting, commissioners approved two related motions.
The first authorizes the county’s grant coordinator to explore a planning grant to help develop a long-term plan for the area, which includes the Clinch River Environmental Studies Organization site and the historic Poor Farm property.
The land along Blockhouse Valley Road is used by CRESO for research and educational work involving snakes, turtles and other wildlife.
Commissioner Michael Foster made the motion, seconded by Commissioner Phil Yager. It passed unanimously.
The second motion concerns the parcel next to the CRESO and Poor Farm land — the former hazardous-waste property once owned by American Nuclear at 141 Blockhouse Valley Road.
Cleanup of that site, overseen by the state Department of Environment and Conservation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, was completed earlier this year. Foster also made this motion, and Commissioner Tim Isbel seconded. It passed unanimously.
Frank said she hopes to see the entire area, including the cleaned-up former American Nuclear property, incorporated into a county park or nature preserve.
The County Commission voted in 2009 to place the CRESO and Poor Farm land under the Anderson County Conservation Board for park use, and the mayor said adding the newly remediated acreage “just makes sense.”