December 15, 2003
To Colonel Jessie Barber:
I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the possible shipment of
VX hydrolysate from the Newport Chemical Activity facility near my home.
Although I continue to support neutralization of VX and believe the neutralization
process can effectively destroy this deadly agent, I nevertheless feel uncertain
about the wisdom of transportation of the hydrolysate.
From information I have learned up to this time, my conclusions are:
- Safety must be the primary concern - before schedule and cost.
- Further testing and investigation need to be done on hydrolysate produced
here.
- Improved verification methods need to be implemented.
- Treatment of hydrolysate on site should be given serious consideration.
- Public involvement must be a priority.
- Shipping should not occur until/unless all communities along a “carefully
planned” route are fully informed and involved, including local emergency
personnel as well as SEMA and FEMA groups.
- The public at the receiving site should be fully informed and involved
- not just a token program.
- Any receiving commercial facility must demonstrate and prove an absolute
capability of treating the hydrolysate without damaging the environment -
air, water, land. Experimentation should not be part of full-scale operations.
- The process of determination should be open and transparent - no spin,
no deception, no lapses of attention to detail.
My conclusions are also based on observations of activities surrounding the
failed effort to transport VX hydrolysate to Permaflx in Dayton, Ohio. Because
of trust issues and financial issues, the Department of Defense can not afford
to be less than honest with the public. Ideally, citizens groups would have
meaningful involvement during the decision-making process - as was suggested
in October. This suggestion was acceptable to citizens and both contractors;
unfortunately the Army/Dept. of Defense turned thumbs down. Citizens have
demonstrated through the ACWA process that they are capable of participating
in a cooperative venue, of understanding the issues, and of arriving at mutually
agreeable solutions. I support a similar process now.
We all have one objective: the destruction of VX. I will continue to support
efforts in this direction that are open, safety-oriented, and effective.
Sincerely,