Madison County
Posted on Sat, Nov. 03, 2007
Blue Grass depot shortcomings cited
Report criticizes storage, monitoring, training
By Ashlee Clark
Read the reports as PDF files:
Blue Grass Depot hazardous waste inspection report
Blue Grass Depot site inspection report
RICHMOND --A report released this week from the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection reveals problems with chemical storage, monitoring and personnel training at the Blue Grass Army Depot.
The Division of Waste Management issued four notices of violation to the depot. The violations were for failure to adequately characterize waste, improper storage that resulted in the cracking of a rocket shipping and firing tube, failure to properly train employees to prevent chemical releases and an inadequate refresher training program.
Some areas of the investigation are considered of a "potentially criminal nature," the report states. They include an alleged cover-up of employee exposure to harmful levels of chemical agent, signature inconsistencies in monitoring logs and the demotion of an employee who refused to sign off on a standard operating procedures. Those complaints have been forwarded to the Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet's Office of the Inspector General and the Federal Environmental Protection Agency's Criminal Investigation Division.
The report addressed 40 allegations of improper procedures at the depot. The investigation did not name the complainants.
The Department for Environmental Protection found many of the complaints unmerited, unverifiable or outside the department's jurisdiction.
Army Spokesman Dave Easter said the violations were more of an administrative issue. The depot has been aware of the inspections, which began in September 2006, and has been in communication with the state, Easter said. He said the depot will provide a formal response to the state within the next 30 days.
"The folks at the depot are doing everything they can to not harm the community," Easter said.
Members of public advocacy groups were concerned with the report's findings.
Jeff Ruch, the executive director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, said his organization's biggest concern is that some of the allegations weren't addressed because they introduced issues outside the Department for Environmental Protection's realm of control.
Ruch said he was also concerned with the inadequate training for employees outlined in the report.
"They have to make split-second decisions about events that occur that may put the staff at Blue Grass at risk, as well as the surrounding communities," he said.
Inconsistencies in the operator certification process increase the possibility of confusion or concern that employees aren't being treated appropriately and consistently, according to the report. "As a result employees are not properly trained to prevent releases of chemical warfare agents to the environment," the report states.
The report also states that there is no plan available and no specific training requirements for management members who certify employees.
Craig Williams, the director of the Chemical Weapons Working Group, said the number of allegations that have been referred to criminal investigative authorities is extremely troubling.
"The mere allegations of criminal activity are cause for great concern," he said.
The report offers measures to correct the violations that include developing methods to characterize waste materials, maintaining storage structures to prevent deterioration that makes shipping and firing tubes leak, writing guidelines to produce more confidence in the operator certification process and training on the new process.
It also suggests the development of more components of a personnel training program to supplement additional training.
Reach Ashlee Clark in the Herald-Leader's Richmond bureau at (859) 626-5878.