Building set for demolition in Ports.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. - A building in Portsmouth's West Norfolk neighborhood is scheduled to crumble to the ground Sunday morning. The city is planning an implosion so big, neighbors are concerned for their safety. They turned to 10 On Your Side for help.

Neighbors say they don't fear they'll get blown up. They fear years of chemical production will be emitted into the air after the implosion; they fear what they do not know. And their blaming the City of Portsmouth for that.

On the other side of the tracks on West Norfolk Road sits a chemical plant that has stood since 1899. The building owned by BASF is now preparing the building for dynamite demolition.

We spoke to Richard Grimsely, President of the West Norfolk Civic League and he said, "When they blow it up, people are concerned with what will be airborne and that's our concern."

Grimsely claims he gets the run-around when asking whether the building is clean of all contaminants. He's most troubled that the Portsmouth City Fire Marshall, who issued the permit to explode the building, has no idea if the building is clean either.

Fire Marshall Mike Stockton told 10 On Your Side, "We are assured by the contractor that this is a clean building. I do not have any documents telling me that."

Fire Marshall Stockton met with the Civic League Tuesday and members were shocked at how much Stockton didn't know.

During our investigation, we found it appears no one has any documents stating the building is environmentally safe, including the operator of the property in charge of the demolition.

We brought the matter to Portsmouth Fire Chief Don Horton who abruptly ended the call referring all questions to the City Manager's Office.

Grimsley wants to trust, but verify - and Sunday is coming quickly.

Grimsley and his neighbors told me they cannot believe the city that is allowing the demolition has seen no proof of environmental cleanup. The E-P-A said the implosion of a building is a local jurisdictional matter.

10 On Your Side will continue to investigate and bring you the very latest as more information becomes available.