Published: December 07 , 2007

Agent-filled containers to be destroyed by summer

By Ronica Shannon
Register News Writer

A new type of technology will arrive at the Blue Grass Army Depot in March to destroy three large tanks of a chemical solution that includes the deadly GB nerve agent, or "sarin."

This follows Thursday's news that approximately one gallon of the toxic solution spilled into a holding container located in one of the storage igloos.

The Chemical Destruction Community Advisory Board (CDCAB) discussed the issue Friday in its regular quarterly meeting in the Perkins Building at Eastern Kentucky University.

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.

"This situation is not like fine wine," said Kevin Flamm, project manager of ACWA (Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives). "It's going to get worse with age. Acid in the one-ton containers is going to continue to cause deterioration with the steel threads. Even the new ones are starting to show some corrosion."

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 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.

"This is a unique challenge for Blue Grass," said Lt. Col. Tom Closs, commander of Blue Grass Chemical Activity (BGCA), which is a separate entity located at the depot that is in charge of the safe and proper storage and monitoring of the chemical weapons. "I think it's going to take everyone's help to make sure this happens. While it poses no risk to the public, it does pose a risk to my work force if we have to manage another leak."

Madison Judge-Executive Kent Clark voiced his concerns about shipping the secondary waste off the depot site.

Much debate has been given to the issue (and continued today) about whether or not the secondary waste from the chemical weapons destruction should be shipped off site or destroyed at the depot.

"I can't support this until some decision is made," Clark said, referring to the plan to take the industrial waste from the toxic mixture and sending it to a commercial disposal facility.

"You see it as a separate issue, but the majority of the people don't see it that way," he said.

Site preparation will begin in February, with destruction operations beginning in March. The process is to be completed in April and all equipment will be demobilized in May.

The process will take approximately 80 days to complete and cost about $2 million.

"If everything goes according to plan, that’s how much it should cost," Flamm said. "I have additional funding in case of delays."

Discussion of how to handle the leaking container began in September and included deciding on the technology to be used for chemical destruction. Meetings continued throughout November, leading up to Friday's CDCAB meeting.

The equipment necessary to complete the process will be coming from a weapons disposal site in Maryland.

The CHATS turns toxic waste into industrial waste. The dangers of this waste are virtually the same as the possible dangers and toxicity of drain cleaner, Flamm said.

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

Once the bin is decontaminated, it will be cut in half, melted down and recycled.

"We'll have a clean, empty building when we're done," Flamm said.

According to KDEP (Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection) documents, the level of nerve agent detected in the igloo when the leak was detected was 85 times the military's safe exposure limit for the public.

The first reading on the nerve agent was 74 times higher than the safe exposure limit.

However, Closs said Friday during a 10 a.m. teleconference that the amount of agent found in the atmosphere of the igloo was 800 times lower than the allowable limit to what constitutes a danger to the life and health of the public.

"It's all according to what guideline you pull out," he said.

Even though it was reported several times that no agent was leaked into the atmosphere outside the igloo, Closs said there is no way to tell.

"I have over 150 employees who are trained to see symptoms of nerve agent exposure and none of those were reported," Closs said. "There is no indication whatsoever that anything escaped into the atmosphere."

The igloo was monitored on Aug. 20 and then again on Aug. 27, therefore, there is no way to determine exactly when the leak occurred.

"If there's an igloo leaking on a Monday and it doesn't get monitored until Friday, no matter how many scientists or labs you have, you don't know what's going on in that igloo," said Craig Williams, director of the Berea-based Chemical Weapons Working Group.

Since the leak, that igloo is being tested daily rather than weekly, Closs said.

Aside from his concerns, Williams said he wants the process to be done as efficiently and peacefully as possible.

"There's a unanimous appreciation for what is done out there to protect this community," Williams said. "Nobody's perfect and nothing is perfect. We’re all in this together and the intent is to improve safety."

In other depot news:

• Approximately 2.2 million hours have been worked in 2007 at the Blue Grass Army Depot to prepare for the chemical weapons destruction pilot plant. This includes a 1.8-mile access road, security fencing, the clearing of about 50 acres of land, construction of security guard booths and modular office buildings for construction employees. All underground utilities have been installed, fire water system excavation and installation, storm drain excavation, personnel support building, the SCWO (supercritical water oxidation) building and the maintenance building also have been constructed.

• CDCAB meetings in 2008 have been scheduled for March 11, June 10, Sept. 9 and Dec. 9.

• To view openings and apply for non-manual jobs, visit the project Web site at www.bechtelparsonsbgcapp.com. Resumes also can be sent via e-mail to bpbghr@bechtel.com or mailed to: Stephanie Tevis, 301 Highland Park Drive, Richmond, KY 40475.

• For more information about construction jobs through the Central Kentucky Building and Construction Trades Council, contact: Robert Akin, 1018 New Circle Road, Suite 201, Lexington, KY 40505 or call 1-859-252-8872 or e-mail info@ckbctc.org

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