[CPEO-MEF] Army postpones destruction of nerve agent

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Indiana
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
Army postpones destruction of nerve agent
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Posted on Fri, Aug. 15, 2003

NEWPORT, Ind. - The Army said it will delay destruction of a deadly
nerve agent at the Newport Chemical Depot until early 2004 because the
plant doesn't yet meet environmental standards or have a sprinkler
system.

A federal lawsuit in Ohio, announced last month, also might add to the
delay of a process ordered by international treaty and shadowed by
terrorism.

The Army had planned to start destroying more than 1,200 tons of VX in
October at the depot about 30 miles north of Terre Haute.

But the neutralization process doesn't yet meet the Army's environmental
standard prohibiting more than 20 parts of VX per billion in the
byproduct, known as hydrolysate.

VX is so deadly even a tiny amount of the thick, oily liquid can kill if
it is inhaled or comes in contact with skin.

The Army also has ordered Parsons Engineering, the company hired to
build and operate the Newport Chemical Depot, to install a sprinkler
system that would include containment in case of fluid runoff. The
system could take four to six months to design, install and test.

The depot is not expected to be ready before January at the earliest,
said Jeff Brubaker, project manager for the Army.

This article can be viewed at:
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/news/6538643.htm

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