Defense Environment Alert
August 12, 2003

ARMY ANNOUNCES CONTRACT TO TREAT NON-STOCKPILE SECONDARY WASTE

The Army late last month announced it has awarded Shaw Environmental Inc. a nearly $22 million contract to treat secondary waste generated from neutralization of non-stockpile chemical materiel. Treatment of secondary waste is expected to begin in October 2003, and the contract will end in December 2005.

Shaw Environmental, headquartered in Stoughton, MA, will be responsible for partnering with one or more treatment, storage and disposal facilities (TSDFs) to enable them to treat non-stockpile neutralent and secondary waste using non-incineration technologies when possible, the Army says. Waste treatment will be dependent on the characteristics of the individual wastes such as solid or liquid, corrosives, metals content and organics.

The Army, Shaw Environmental and subcontracted TSDFs will work together to develop non-incineration capabilities at one or more TSDFs. The Army will provide the funding to develop the capability, which could then be used by the TSDF for both Army and commercial wastes.

Because transportation is a necessary part of the overall treatment process, transportation of the waste to the appropriate partnered TSDF is part of the $21,942,167 contract, the Army says. All waste will be transported from a non-stockpile treatment site in full compliance with local, state and federal laws and regulations. The materials transported will include such wastes as flammable liquids and corrosive liquids, among others.

The Army says it will make available further, and more detailed, information on the plans for disposal of this waste material after the partnership has had time to talk to appropriate community representatives and received input to finalize locations.