Under a provision included in the federal budget bill, the plan to dump nerve agent wastewater into the Delaware River may be delayed until at least next year.

The provision -- included in the bill this week by U.S. Reps. Rob Andrews, D-Haddon Heights, James Saxton, R-Mount Holly, and Frank LoBiondo, R-Vineland -- requires the General Accountability Office to conduct a study on the viability of the Army's proposal by the end of the year. The Army may not go forward with the VX plan until 60 days after the report is issued.

Under the Army's plan, the deadly nerve agent would be treated in Indiana and the resulting caustic compound would be shipped to South Jersey. That compound would be treated again by DuPont's Secure Environmental Treatment facility in Carneys Point, Salem County, and the resulting waste would be dumped into the Delaware River.