DuPont, Army postpone meeting about nerve gas

Friday, August 18, 2006

By JEAN JONES

Staff Writer

DOWNE TWP. -- A presentation by DuPont and the U.S. Army scheduled for Sept. 20 here has been canceled.

Mayor Harry Wilson said Wednesday that he received a letter notifying the township that a new date would be scheduled after the parties have had an opportunity to review a report from the federal Centers for Disease Control concerning the safety of VX hydrolysate.

The plan by the government to have the byproduct of rendering the nerve gas inactive treated further by DuPont has met with concerted opposition from watermen who make their living from the Delaware Bay, environmentalists and residents of the bayshore area. The treated effluent would be dumped into the Delaware River, and there are concerns not only about the short-term impact, but the long-term effects of the disposal.

One presentation already was given here, but there was no prior notice for residents because Wilson said the call to the municipal office came too late to advertise the special item on the agenda.

Residents had asked that another presentation be scheduled so they could attend.

In other business, resident Bernie Sayers thanked the committee and acting clerk Lois Buttner for providing him with copies of meeting minutes for 2005 and 2006 in digital form, which he had requested for some time.

He took issue, however, with an executive session held at the last meeting where no reason for the session was stated and the audience was not told when the results of the session would be made public, as required by law.

Wilson said the committee would discuss the complaint with Solicitor Thomas Farnoly.

Sayers also said he noted in the minutes of an August 2005 meeting mention of a notification from the state that the access road to the convenience center encroached on wetlands.

He asked what action would be taken.

Wilson said no meeting had been held to discuss it and he knew of none that was scheduled.

The committee granted an extension of U.S. Silica's mining license to October.

The planning board, which must issue a conditional use permit, had canceled its August meeting and meets next on Sept. 11.

The license expires on Sept. 10.

The committee decided to pay $300 a year for a collection container for cardboard at the convenience center, but not to acquire an oil container because of the possibility for a spill.

"It will pay for itself in money we get back for recycling," said Committeeman Steve Fleetwood.

Since the next workshop meeting would fall on Labor Day, it was announced that it will be held on Sept. 11, at 6 p.m.