Army plans to extend VX destruction schedule

About half of the 1,269 tons of agent contains stabilizer that takes longer to process

By Patricia L. Pastore/Tribune-Star

September 16, 2004

The Army expects to extend its schedule for destroying nerve agent VX at Newport because about half the VX contains a stabilizer that takes longer to process.

The 1,269 tons of VX contains two stabilizing agents. The DIC stabilizer is in 46 percent, according to estimates based on analyses of samples. The rest is DCC or a blend of the DIC and DCC, said Jeff Brubaker, Army site manager.

"The difference, as it applies to the neutralization process, is that it may be necessary to process the DCC or DCC-DIC blended stock for longer periods," he said. "This factor has the potential to extend our schedule for destroying the entire Newport stockpile, but should not affect our ability to begin destruction operations."

The Army had validated its ability to reduce the VX level in its byproduct hydrolysate to a specified nondetect level.

"In initial tests of DCC stabilized agent, we have achieved nondetect with a method detection limit at or below 20 parts per billion," Brubaker said. "However, the processing time required to meet the nondetect level has varied from 10 to 16 hours," Brubaker said.

"Our schedule is based on a 2.5 hour processing time which has successfully been achieved with the DIC stabilized VX."

Brubaker said tests performed with DCC and mixed stabilizers were at laboratory scale, using a 0.8-gallon reactor. At the laboratory scale, it is not easy to duplicate the mixing provided by larger and more sophisticated reactors, he said.

"Based on pilot scale testing done in 1999 with DCC-stabilized VX using a 100-gallon reactor similar to the full-scale reactor installed in the Newport plant (1,000 gallons) we would surmise that longer processing times would not be needed," Brubaker said. "However, until we use the actual reactors in the plant, which we know perform differently from the smaller laboratory equipment we have been using for verification, we cannot rule out longer processing times. Please be assured that the plant equipment and associated control systems have the capability to process for longer periods, if needed."

The Army still plans to ship the VX hydrolysate, about 4 million gallons, to a commercial hazardous wastewater treatment plant for further treatment. It has been working with DuPont in New Jersey.

Brubaker said each hydrolysate batch will be confirmed as nondetect for agent with less than or equal to 20 ppb before off-site shipment. Regardless of the stabilizer content, if the verification sample from the processed batch does not clear at the nondetect level of 20 ppb or lower, it will be processed until it does.

"The Army's focus remains on the safe destruction of VX," he said.

Brubaker said a slow startup plan was developed that allows the Army to verify plant performance during the initial operations before increasing the destruction rate. He said multiple transportable containers are on-site to store hydrolysate until the commercial facility is ready to receive it. He estimates that will be in about six to nine months.

"If the commercial facility is not viable, we would pursue expanding the on-site storage capability and concurrently begin evaluating on-site treatment options," Brubaker said. "We realize such a change in our course of action could slow down the completion of the Newport stockpile destruction, but our prime focus is making a start toward eliminating the risk from continued storage."

Last month, the Army delayed the start of VX destruction until 190 operational and safety issues raised by a review board during a test are addressed.

As of Tuesday, there were 54 remaining recommendations waiting to be verified and closed before the start of safe operations, said Terry Arthur, Army spokeswoman. She said work has been completed on 51 of the remaining recommendations.

"Based on the current schedule, these completed recommendations are waiting for verification by independent auditors and will be presented to the Commissioning Review Board for closure later this week," Arthur said. "Work is under way to complete the remaining three recommendations by the end of this month."

In August, the Army expected VX destruction to begin between October and December, Brubaker said.

The numerous delays have eliminated the possibility that the Newport Chemical Depot will meet the requirements of the Chemical Weapons Convention, the multinational treaty signed during the Reagan administration that requires the destruction of bulk nerve agents and weapons by 2007.

"Though the United States will not meet the original treaty deadline set for April 2007, the Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has granted an extension of the 45 percent destruction milestone from April 2004 to December 2007," Brubaker said. "The United States, the Army and workers at the Newport Chemical Depot are committed to eliminating the chemical weapon stockpile as safely and expeditiously as possible, thereby eliminating the risk these weapons pose to our community, our workers and our environment."

The Newport Chemical Depot sits along U.S. 41 about 30 miles north of Terre Haute. A drop of VX the size of a BB may be lethal in minutes.

Patricia Pastore can be reached at (812)231-4271 or pat.pastore@tribstar.com