Published: January 16 , 2008 08:07 am

Seeking a swift solution

Nerve agent leak topic of community discussion

Ronica Shannon
Register News Writer

A crowd of about 45 stakeholders and community members gathered Tuesday to learn more about an upcoming project, "Operation Swift Solution," an effort to destroy three ton containers being stored at the Blue Grass Army Depot.

A one-gallon liquid leak containing about 40 percent GB nerve agent spilled into a ton container holding pan in August and has since been supervised daily along with a continual extreme high-powered filter system in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The leak did not flow onto the floor of the storage facility and has been determined by the Blue Grass Chemical Activity as of being no harm to the community.

The Kentucky Division of Waste Management studied the scenario surrounding the leak and determined there did not appear to be any release of nerve agent vapor off post, or even outside the chemical-limited area (which is a specified zone on the depot property where all weapons storage igloos are stored.)

The container’s leak was caused by a deteriorated steel plug that has since been replaced, but is almost guaranteed to cause the same problem in the future, said Lt. Col. Tom Closs, commander of the Blue Grass Chemical Activity, a separate entity housed on the depot’s property specifically in charge of the storage and monitoring of the weapons storage igloos.

"It is only a matter of four or five years before it will leak again, and that is not acceptable," he said.

Destruction of the containers should begin in March and cost about $2 million.

A Chemical Agent Transfer System (CHATS) will be used to destroy the 157 gallons of toxic chemical mixture being stored in three stainless steel containers.

The CHATS is essentially a sealed box that allows operators to manually drain the contents of a ton container into a self-contained neutralization reactor.

The waste temporarily will be stored at the depot, then a contract will be formed with a commercial facility to have them provide appropriate disposal.

This is the part that is unsettling to some community members, as well as members of the Kentucky Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission (CAC), which operates under the umbrella of the Chemical Destruction Community Advisory Board (CDCAB).

Craig Williams, co-chair of the CDCAB and a member of the CAC, spoke on behalf of both organizations thanking Flamm and the ACWA team.

"We have been briefed extensively and we appreciate that immensely," Williams said. "I know the community appreciates it. We have had at least three or four meetings about this."

Williams then announced the official recommendation of the CAC about the method of disposal for the neutralization process waste.

"We endorse and completely support the elimination of this matter, but there are still significant questions associated with the end product," Williams said. "But, that should not prohibit our method of moving forward."

Members of the CAC are not convinced that off-site waste disposal would be the best method, he said.

Richmond lawyer John Lackey, who has been a long-time active supporter of off-site disposal, was stirred by some of Williams’ remarks.

"I don’t think your committee speaks for the community," he said. "This (the waste) is a toxic chemical that is no more dangerous than the things that are shipped every day across the United States. We have to get that stuff out of here and quit spending our taxpayers’ money on a project that may make a lot of money for Bechtel-Parsons."

Bechtel-Parsons possibly could profit from a patent on the SCWO (Supercritical Water Oxidation) method, Lackey said.

The method is being used to administer the on-site disposal of the chemical weapons stored at the depot.

"I’m tired of waiting on this and tired of spending taxpayers’ money on a process that will probably not work," he said.

CDCAB member Bob Miller took the microphone, turned back at Lackey, and responded.

"I’m in nobody’s pocket," Miller replied.

"You don’t think you are," Lackey said.

Williams later asked Flamm what roles Bechtel-Parsons played in this particular disposal project.

"None directly," Flamm said. "We want to keep the (weapons disposal) team focused at the task at hand, and that is eliminating the (chemical weapons stored at the depot)."

The Bechtel-Parsons Blue Grass Team and Parsons Infrastructure and Technology Group, along with partners Washington Demilitarization Company, Battelle Memorial Institute, General Atomics and General Physics, are the systems contractor in charge of designing, building, systemizing, pilot testing, operating and closing the weapons disposal facility.

Richmond resident Dr. Paula Maionchi reiterated her concern for the CHATS facility’s durability and safety in case of inclement weather, which she also voiced at a December meeting of the CDCAB.

Design plans for the structure go under a great deal of scrutiny, considering every possible scenario, Closs said.

"When we do the Risk Assessment Package, we will determine our work plan and the state must approve our work plan," he said. "Part of that risk assessment will be about anything that may occur at any given time during the process."

Maionchi also is concerned about the readability of medical assistance in case of an accident.

Closs assured her that medical care could rapidly be provided on-site by depot medical personnel or by helicopter if need be.

The CHATS will be located in a "sprung" structure, meaning that it is not a permanent structure. It will be placed within 20 yards of the igloo so that the process involves a minuscule amount of moving between the igloo and the CHATS.

The facility will operate about eight to 10 hours a day, destroying about 15 gallons a day "if everything goes well," Flamm said.

Site preparation for the CHATS structure will begin in March with operations starting in late April.

Complete demobilization of the project should take place in July.

Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 623-1669, Ext. 234.