Published: March 13, 2007 10:03 pm

Moving chemicals seems less likely

Ronica Shannon
Register News Writer

A representative of the Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives told the chemical destruction advisory board Tuesday that transporting the toxic waste to an off-site facility is "not a viable option."

Mike Parker, program manager for Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives, spoke at Tuesday's meeting of the Chemical Demilitarization Community Advisory Board and presented members and the public with an update for the weapons destruction pilot plant being built at the Blue Grass Army Depot.

The idea of shipping the chemical waste off-site has long been opposed by a large portion of Madison Countians, but recently resurfaced in the Army's attempt to save money on the destruction project.

If the wastes were sent to an off-site disposal facility, there would be no need to construct a SCWO (Supercritical Water Oxidation) plant, which is the alternative destruction method chosen over transporting the material.

Shipping the waste has been a concern from the beginning of the destruction planning because of the chance of the trucks having an accident on the Interstate and the thought of taking the toxic waste into another community.

"How could we get another community to take the weapons considering the risks involved?" Parker asked.

In fact, it is against the law to transport chemical waste via America's Interstate system.

"It is required by law that an emergency condition must be declared before the waste can legally be shipped," Parker said.

As of now, the nerve agents will be destroyed on-site at the depot by using the SCWO method, which "cooks" the nerve agent by using a mixture of extreme heat and water pressure. The resulting matter is non-toxic and can be disposed.

In the past, incineration has been considered, but was not a popular destruction method among the public.

Many were afraid that the process could be dangerous because of the use of fire.

If incineration were to be chosen now over the SCWO method, it would add five more years to the project's timeline, Parker said.

Local resident and former legislative member John Lackey questioned the effectiveness of the SCWO method and said he would like to see more documentation that the method has been proven successful.

"Great chemists have said that it's not practical," Lackey said. "And, this has been going on since 1983."

The Department of Defense has recommended that the disposal deadline be pushed back again until 2023.

This is the result of the change in funding allotments for the destruction project. The funds are generating from the same fund used to fight the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, Parker said.

"If this community is concerned about the timeline, they should write a letter to their local representatives in the Senate and in Congress asking for more project funding," he said.

According to Parker, the SCWO method has been validated repeatedly.

A timeline update was given Tuesday by Jim Fritsche, site project manager, Blue Grass Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Project.

According to Department of Defense officials, the estimated time lapse until the weapons are destroyed is 16 years from now.

Fritsche gave the schedule forecast for the systems contractor, Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass, which did not match that of the Department of Defense.

The destruction facility's design was originally scheduled to take 27 months, but Bechtel estimates 64 months. The project's construction has an original time frame of 48 months and Bechtel estimates 103 months.

When including the destruction, construction, systemization, pilot testing, operations and closure, original estimates show that the project will be complete in 2011. Bechtel estimates it to conclude in 2020, but Fritsche said that a ending date of 2023 was more realistic.

A pilot plant construction update was given by Tom Kurkjy, environmental manager for Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass.

A total of $20,850,000 in construction bids were awarded. Approximately 98 percent of the project's costs were kept in Madison and surrounding counties, Kurkjy said.

The total task is about 11 percent complete and includes many aspects such as soil and water investigations, construction of an access road, perimeter fencing and stormwater systems.

Construction to follow includes roadway lighting, installing electrical equipment and telecommunications, the design and fabrication of an access control building and the design and fabrication of a vehicle control barrier.

Updates for the weapons destruction pilot plant are given at each meeting of the CDCAB. This year's meetings are scheduled for June 11, Sept. 11 and Dec. 11.

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