DuPont May Pull Out of VX Hydrolysate Treatment Plan
CHEMICAL
WEAPONS WORKING GROUP
128 Main
St. Berea KY 40403
859-986-9868
859-986-2695 (F)
www.cwwg.org kefcwwg@cwwg.org
for
more information contact:
Elizabeth Crowe (859) 986-0868
DUPONT MAY PULL OUT OF VX HYDROLYSATE TREATMENT PLAN
Elizabeth Crowe (859) 986-0868
for
immediate release: Thursday, January 4, 2007
DUPONT MAY PULL OUT OF VX HYDROLYSATE TREATMENT PLAN
The
Chemical Weapons Working Group (CWWG) has just learned from reliable
sources that DuPont is considering withdrawing its proposal to treat
Army nerve agent wastes at its Deepwater, NJ plant. Community
groups, conservationists, union members and citizens stretching from
Indiana to New Jersey have advocated that the wastes be safely treated
on-site, rather than raising chemical security, worker safety and
environmental risks by shipping the waste for treatment at an offsite
commercial facility.
The U.S. Army has for nearly five years been proposing to ship VX nerve agent hydrolysate -- the liquid waste after a chemical neutralization process -- from its Newport, Indiana chemical weapons disposal facility. Permafix, Inc. in Dayton, Ohio was first targeted as a waste shipment site, however outcry from citizens groups and legislators alike resulted in Permafix withdrawing from consideration.
Rather than reverting back to its original plan to destroy the hydrolysate on-site in Indiana, however, the Army has, since 2004, proposed to shipping the waste to DuPont, who wanted to treat the waste with a biological process then discharge into the Delaware River.
"From the very beginning, the Army's plan to ship this waste off-site was a recipe for disaster," said Craig Williams of the Chemical Weapons Working Group. "We're pleased to hear that DuPont is considering pulling the plug on this project."
Opposition to the Army's plan was broad and fierce. New Jersey legislators have spoken out consistently against the proposed hydrolysate shipments, and more than fifty organizations, townships and municipalities passed resolutions against it. On December 20, 2006 the Delaware Riverkeeper and six other organizations including the CWWG filed suit against the Army, saying its hydrolysate shipment proposal is a violation of a law banning interstate transportation of chemical weapons.
"The Army now has another opportunity to work cooperatively with contractors and the Newport community to destroy the hydrolysate on-site, per its original plan," said Elizabeth Crowe. "Too much time and money has been wasted trying to force communities to accept this waste. Its time to get the job done right."
The U.S. Army has for nearly five years been proposing to ship VX nerve agent hydrolysate -- the liquid waste after a chemical neutralization process -- from its Newport, Indiana chemical weapons disposal facility. Permafix, Inc. in Dayton, Ohio was first targeted as a waste shipment site, however outcry from citizens groups and legislators alike resulted in Permafix withdrawing from consideration.
Rather than reverting back to its original plan to destroy the hydrolysate on-site in Indiana, however, the Army has, since 2004, proposed to shipping the waste to DuPont, who wanted to treat the waste with a biological process then discharge into the Delaware River.
"From the very beginning, the Army's plan to ship this waste off-site was a recipe for disaster," said Craig Williams of the Chemical Weapons Working Group. "We're pleased to hear that DuPont is considering pulling the plug on this project."
Opposition to the Army's plan was broad and fierce. New Jersey legislators have spoken out consistently against the proposed hydrolysate shipments, and more than fifty organizations, townships and municipalities passed resolutions against it. On December 20, 2006 the Delaware Riverkeeper and six other organizations including the CWWG filed suit against the Army, saying its hydrolysate shipment proposal is a violation of a law banning interstate transportation of chemical weapons.
"The Army now has another opportunity to work cooperatively with contractors and the Newport community to destroy the hydrolysate on-site, per its original plan," said Elizabeth Crowe. "Too much time and money has been wasted trying to force communities to accept this waste. Its time to get the job done right."
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