Dayton Daily News
June 2, 2003

Letters to the Editor

Monday, June 2, 2003

Perma-Fix contract carefully awarded

As the lead Army representitive responsible for overseeing the destruction of chemical agents at Newport, Ind., I believe it is important to respond to the May 7 editorial "Dayton not at ease with VX disposal."

The Dayton community, and particularly those living in close proximity to the Perma-Fix facility, need to know that it was only after careful consideration of more than 100 treatment, storage and disposal facilities that Perma-Fix of Dayton Inc. was awarded a "limited notice-to-proceed" contract to perform post-treatment studies on the hydrolysate--the liquid waste that results from neutralizing nerve agent VX.

The "limited notice-to-proceed" contract requires that Perma-Fix demonstrate that it can safely transport, treat, and dispose of the hydrolysate. The results of this effort will determine if Perma-Fix is awarded the actual treatment/disposal work. Perma-Fix was selected, in part, based on its expertise and prior experience in safe treatment/disposal of hazardous waste.

While Perma-Fix's contract is contingent upon its performing public outreach, this does not mean that the company is alone in this effort. The Army and its contractor, Parsons, are full partners with Perma-Fix in reaching out and involving the Dayton community. Together, we have voluntarily sponsored and/or participated in six public meetings starting in January of this year, with the objective of providing the public accurate information and direct contact with the Army on this important project.

Space does not permit it here, but I would be happy to address the questions posed by the Dayton Daily News in its May 7 editorial. If an editorial writer had contacted us about those questions, we would have provided specific answers. Many of those questions were answered in a letter responding in detail to technical and safety questions from the city of Dayton that was mailed May 19.

For residents who would like to receive more information about this proposed project, you can log onto our Web site, http://www.pmcd.army.mil/necdf_publications.asp, and view the presentation made at several of the public meetings, as well as fact sheets about the hydrolysate project and a copy of the letter sent to the city of Dayton. In addition, if you are interested in learning more about Perma-Fix's "bio-fix" process selected to treat the hydrolysate--I urge you to log onto the company's Web site at www.perma-fix.com/dayton. You may also call the Newport Chemical Stockpile Outreach Office at (866) 300-9034.

Jeffrey L. Brubaker
Newport, Ind.
Mr. Brubaker is site project manager for Newport Chemical Depot.

Plan takes unnecessary risks

Re the letter "VX plan's foes ignore the facts," May 19: I would like to know how many of the informational meetings the letter writer from Washington Twp. has attended regarding hydrolysate? The information quoted seemed very similar to information produced by Perma-Fix.

Those of us who have attended know for a fact that the entire process of breaking down the VX nerve gas is experimental. It has never been done, so there's no data to prove it's going to break down as thought. Even the residents of Newport, Ind., who have been living with this stockpile in their back yards all these years, are not in favor of it being removed off-site to be processed.

The original plan called for the destruction of hydrolysate to occur on site, but the Army has not kept up the time-table to construct the facility.

According to an Army statement, once the VX has been broken down into the hydrolysate, it is no longer VX nerve gas, therefore no longer a target for terrorists. It can be stored on site in Newport until the construction is completed of a disposal facility on site, and the Army can finish the breakdown process without moving it.

Even if one believes that it is no longer a threat as VX nerve gas, it is still a very toxic hazardous waste that does not need to be transported over public highways to risk being involved in accidents.

As for Perma-Fix itself, if the letter writer from Washington Twp. does not find it offensive, I'm sure the residents of Jefferson Twp. would not mind having it moved to Washington Twp. Then, he may enjoy the daily noxious odors that we who live and travel through the West Third Street 35/49 Connector have to endure daily.

Jill Kuhns
New Lebanon