|
Workers destroying twice as much VX at a time
Officials say
plant operating almost flawlessly
By Patricia L. Pastore/Tribune-Star
Workers at the Newport Chemical Agent Destruction
Facility are destroying twice as much VX now as they did in the process used
at start-up May 5.
Three weeks into the destruction process, the plant and the workers are
operating almost flawlessly, officials say.
"We have successfully neutralized 1,440 gallons of VX, said Jeff Brubaker,
government site project manager, on Friday. "We started with 8 percent by
weight and have done three batches at 16 percent by weight which has gone
better than the 8 percent weight. All three have cleared the criteria for
non-detect within four hours and the 8 percent weight cleared in four to
six hours."
The criteria for "no detectable" VX in the byproduct
of neutralization, hydrolysate, is 20 parts per billion, at which level the
substance is not harmful to man or the environment, according to the Army.
The disposal facility has taken delivery on 14 of the 1,269 one- ton containers
of VX, drained 12 of them and cleared the VX by using glove box technology
to drain the containers without incident, Brubaker said.
He said 7,200 gallons of VX hydrolysate were transferred last week into two
intermodal containers. There are 48 containers on-site or enough to hold
280,000 gallons of hydrolysate. The amount is enough to store all the hydrolysate
that neutralization will produce through February, Brubaker said.
"We are talking to the Department of Environmental Management pertaining
to the possibility of needing additional storage," Brubaker said. He said
if the Army must continue to store the hydrolysate instead of hauling it
to a commercial hazardous waste disposal facility for further treatment and
final disposal, the Army must apply for additional permits from IDEM before
obtaining more containers.
"We remain hopeful that off-site disposal of the hydrolysate will be allowed,"
he said. He said the Army and DuPont are working with the Centers for Disease
Control and the federal Environmental Protection Agency to resolve any concerns
about taking hydrolysate to the DuPont Secure Environmental Facility in New
Jersey for disposal.
Shutdowns for planned, routine maintenance are
scheduled for the Nerve Agent Disposal Facility.
The first of those is scheduled 75 days after startup, Brubaker said. He
said the neutralization facility may run longer than the July 19 target maintenance
date if "things continue to run smoothly."
"The transition from 8 percent weight to 16 percent weight has gone very
well," Brubaker said. "Startup is better than I envisioned. The 16 percent
by weight uses a higher percentage of sodium hydroxide, which has a more
immediate destruction on VX."
Two small glitches didn't slow down the process, Brubaker said. He said a
pump failed on the skid that holds wash-out equipment for the ton containers.
"We prepared for the expected and had the spare parts available," he said.
"It was repaired quickly and put into service."
A second situation occurred with a problem in the sampling system. The
necessary parts were replaced and that particular system was returned to
service in eight hours.
"We've had no surprises, Brubaker said. "We've been able to handle everything
because of excellent staff training and preparation prior to startup."
Patricia Pastore can be reached
at (812) 231-4271 or pat.pastore@tribstar.com.
Story created May 31, 2005 - 15:03:18
CDT.
|
