May 20, 2003

The Honorable Claude M. Bolton,, Jr. Assistant Secretary of the Army (ALT)/AAE 103 Army, Pentagon RM 2672

Dear Secretary Bolton:

We are writing on behalf of the people of Parke County, Indiana, whom we have the privilege to represent.

It has come to our attention that there exists a great deal of controversy surrounding the possible shipment of VX hydrolysate to Pemafix in Dayton, Ohio. VX hydrolysate is a by-product resulting from the VX chemical agent neutralization operation at the Newport Chemical Demilitarization Facility in Vermillion County, the county directly to the west.

As you know, this off-site shipment proposal resulted from modifications to the original plan of doing secondary treatment at Newport when accelerated disposal options were considered in the aftermath of September 11, 2001.

Although we fully support the concept of acceleration in an effort to eliminate the risk posed by the presence of VX in our community, we also recognize that once the agent is neutralized, the risk is indeed gone.

Under the original plan accepted by Indiana citizens and their elected officials, the State of Indiana regulatory authorities, and the Army, the secondary waste (hydrolysate) was to be treated via SCWO (Super-critical Water Oxidation) on-site at Newport. This or other on-site treatment options, if approved by all parties, remains acceptable to us at this time. The primary objective of acceleration is, and should remain, the destruction of the VX agent stored here. It would be most unfortunate if this objective should be derailed or delayed due to unanticipated or mishandled circumstances at any potential off-site secondary waste reception community.

It is our position that should off-site secondary waste disposal create a situation wherein neutralization of the VX is delayed, the agreed-upon plan of on-site treatment of the hydrolysate should be implemented, thereby allowing accelerated destruction of this agent. We find this an acceptable way to ensure protection of the residents of our county.

Sincerely,

George I. Nicholas
Patricia Leonard-Teague
Jim Meece

Commissioners
Parke County, Indiana

cc: Mike Parker, CMA
Senator Evan Bayh
Senator Richard Lugar
Representative John Hostettler
Representative Steve Buyer