PENNS GROVE -- Borough council members were given the opportunity Tuesday night to question a DuPont Co. representative about the company's proposal to treat the neutralized byproduct of the deadly nerve agent VX at its Deepwater facility.
DuPont Chambers Works Plant Manager John Strait gave a short presentation to the council which was followed by a question and answer session.
Strait said the Army plans to neutralize the VX agent at a facility in Indiana and then transport the resulting wastewater to DuPont for treatment. After the water is treated, it would be dumped into the Delaware River.
The wastewater will be corrosive material, Strait said, not unlike other materials the company is currently treating. He said DuPont will neutralize it and then treat it with peroxide to get rid of its odor before dumping it in the river.
The plant will be treating about two in a half million gallons of the water over the course of 30 months, according to Strait. He said the project will "maintain jobs" at the DuPont facility.
Strait said DuPont is waiting for a safety report from the national Centers For Disease Control (CDC) on the project before they proceed further.
Councilman A.J. Crescenzi said that he felt confident about the safety aspect of the proposal, but was concerned about the negative publicity the project would generate.
"It's hard for us from a publicity standpoint," Crescenzi said. "No matter how safe it may be, there's a negative connotation associated with the process."
"It will affect us as we're working to get people to build hotels, shops, and restaurants in the borough," Crescenzi said. "It's our job to make the most out of our one major asset, which is our riverfront."
The Chambers Works is located on the Delaware River just south of Penns Grove.
Strait responded that DuPont wouldn't take on the project if it wasn't capable of treating the waste water safely.
"Safety is first and foremost at DuPont," Strait said. "If we thought their was a chance we couldn't do this safely ... we wouldn't begin to take on the business."
He also said the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be taking an active oversight in the process to ensure it will be done safely.
Other council members also voiced their concerns to Strait.
Councilwoman Tami Baytops asked if dumping the treated wastewater into the river would harm the drinking water or be unsafe for drinking.
Strait responded that DuPont isn't required to make the wastewater up to drinking standards.
"It's not treated to drinking water standards, but we aren't required to do that," Strait said. "Runoff from rainwater isn't up to drinking standards, either."
Mayor John Washington asked if it would effect fishing in the river.
Strait said that it wouldn't.
"People will still be able to freely fish on the river," Strait said.
Councilwoman Carol Mincey asked if other facilities were considered for the project.
"The Army considered other facilities, but were the only one capable of treating it," Strait said of DuPont.
Strait said he's not sure what other facilities the Army considered and that he wasn't aware if they considered treating it at a facility on the West Coast.
Councilman Clifford Poindexter asked what would happen if it the untreated wastewater comes into contact with skin.
Strait said the liquid substance is similar to drain cleaner and that it would turn skin red and make it irritated. He said people with protective clothing will be handling the material.
Crescenzi concluded the question and answer session by asking if DuPont would continue with the program if the CDC report states that there are problems with the operation.
Strait responded that if that is the case, DuPont would not pursue the project.
"Then we would be done," Strait said.
The CDC is expected to release its report in May.