Updated 04/22/2007 11:04:26 PM CDT


People concerned about the disposal of VX nerve gas waste near Port Arthur will have the chance today to tour the disposal facility or join a protest.

Veolia Environmental Service, the Port Arthur-area company, which has a contract with the U.S. Army to incinerate 1.8 million gallons of VX nerve gas waste water over the next three years, will host an open house.

"We understand that because the nature of this material and how it's linked to its parent material, there are going to be concerns," Veolia Environmental Health and Safety Manager Daniel J. Duncan said. "We appreciate those concerns, but we want to underscore the fact that there is no risk to the public from us managing this material."

Meanwhile, Hilton Kelley, director of the Port Arthur-based Community In-Power Development Association, is hosting a meeting to plan a protest against the disposal.

If you go : What: Veolia open house Where: Veolia's facility, 7769 Texas 73, 3.5 miles west of Taylor's Bayou. When: 3 to 7 p.m. today. What: Protest meeting Where: St. John Missionary Baptist Church, 801 Grannis Ave., Port Arthur. When: Meeting starts at 5 p.m. today.

"We're going to talk about the dangers of this VX nerve gas byproduct and why we don't want it here," he said.

The Veolia open house will begin with an overview of the project.

Veolia will explain the initial process where VX nerve gas is turn into waste water before it's shipped from its current storage facility at an army base in Newport, Ind, Duncan said.

Veolia officials have said this waste water is no more toxic than drain cleaner.

Veolia will explain its transportation.

"We won't provide the exact details of the route," Duncan said. "But we can tell you that none of the containers move through the city of Port Arthur."

Then the company will explain how it receives and stores the waste water.

"After the overview, any member of the public who wants to tour the facility will be given safety glass and hardhats and we'll show them the actual tanks, the unloading area and the incinerator," Duncan said.

After the tour, Veolia will provide food and refreshments, Duncan said.

Kelley expects about 100 people at his meeting.

"We are going to identify a place and time for us to protest," Kelley said, adding it's likely the protest will happen Wednesday.

Kelley said he and Port Arthur Councilman Martin Flood, who is also opposed to the disposal, will meet this morning with a Veolia official.

"There are too many uncertainties with this material," Kelley said. "We did not get an opportunity to express our concerns. There was no public meeting. It seems like they have something to hide and backdoored this project on the whole community."

Duncan said Veolia has all the permits and licenses needed for handling the waste.

The company's protocols have been reviewed by the U.S. Army, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and have been deemed "more than acceptable," Duncan said.

"We engaged in a very comprehensive outreach program in front of this project to make sure (local officials) were fully aware of what we were planning to do," Duncan said. "And, without exception, we had support."

paulsmartinez@beaumontenterprise.com
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