Tribune-Star (Terre Haute IN)
July 2, 2003

Army contractor examines temporary storage options for nerve agent byproduct

By Patricia L. Pastore/Tribune-Star

July 2, 2003

NEWPORT--Parsons Inc. is exploring the option of temporary storage of nearly 1 million gallons of hydrolysate, a byproduct of the neutralization of VX nerve agent.

Parsons is the contractor the Army hired to build and operate an on-site plant at the Newport Chemical Depot to neutralize the nerve agent.

The Army has approved Parsons' plan to conduct a market survey to explore a potential "tank farm" for hydrolysate, said Jeff Brubaker, Army site project manager.

This measure assures continuation of Project Speedy Neut, the accelerated plan to destroy VX, if the byproduct cannot be shipped for any reason.

Perma-Fix of Dayton, Ohio was selected by Parsons to treat the hydrolysate while VX neutralization progresses at the Newport plant.

Ohio citizens don't want the hydrolysate transported from Newport to their community. Several groups are trying to stop Perma-Fix from trucking the VX byproduct into their community for treatment.

If the opposition is successful, it could interrupt Parsons' neutralization plan.

If a tank farm is selected, Parsons would let a design and build contract.

"They would provide all the labor, not Parsons," said Rick Rife, Parsons deputy project manager. "We would simply serve as construction manager."

Rife said he hopes to find a business in this state "who has done it before."

About two acres near the Newport Chemical Agent Disposal Facility might be used to house multiple tanks with a capacity of 40,000 to 50,000 gallons that are made off-site, delivered and installed to store the hydrolysate, Brubaker said.

Brubaker has said the Newport neutralization facility can store only 30,000 gallons of hydrolysate, which is about four to six weeks worth during a VX destruction process expected to last nine months and produce nearly 1 million gallons of the byproduct.

VX destruction is scheduled to begin in October. If Parsons doesn't have a place to dump the hydrolysate, the neutralization program could be delayed.

Delaying the neutralization operation would be more costly than investing in a tank farm for hydrolysate storage, said Terry Arthur, Army spokeswoman.

Before Parsons can build a tank farm, it must get a permit from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. The time line for securing a permit is about nine months, Brubaker said Monday. He said Parsons and the Army have a good working relationship with IDEM and preliminary discussion with the agency indicates the application could possibly be expedited.

"The specific time is unknown," he said.

Perma-Fix, a commercial chemical waste treatment company, has multiple waste treatment plants across the country, said Ginger Corado, a Parsons spokeswoman.

"If there is a problem with the shipment of hydrolysate to the Perma-Fix facility in Dayton, reprocurement, the process of choosing a facility to treat the byproduct, may not be necessary depending upon Perma-Fix's ability to ship elsewhere," said Kirby Pitman, Parsons government contracts manager.

Parsons has several potential options. It could ship to an alternate commercial facility, pre-treat on-site and ship to a commercial facility or select on-site treatment.

"All options require some form of off-site treatment of a waste product," Brubaker said.

Hydrolysate, a caustic liquid with properties similar to drain pipe cleaner, must be treated to reduce the alkalinity.

"Hydrolysate is similar to a number of industrial wastes treated across the country on a daily basis," Brubaker said. "We are committed to start and complete the destruction of VX as quickly and safely as possible. Perma-Fix is a viable and good solution to treat hydrolysate."

Destroying VX, a lethal Cold War weapon, became a national security issue after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on this country, Brubaker said. He said the market survey might take three to four weeks.

Parsons is seeking "someone who has built tanks and that has been permitted by IDEM before," said Rick Rife, Parsons deputy project manager.

Perma-Fix of Dayton is still conducting tests to determine the success of its method of treating the hydrolysate. Results of the tests will be revealed this month.

The tests must show that the three schedule II compounds that are breakdown products of VX destruction meet the International Treaty agreements, Brubaker said.

"The results of the demonstration treatment must show there is adequate destruction of the compounds so the agent can't be reformed," said Glen D. Shonkwiler, chief environmental engineer for the Newport Chemical Agent Disposal Facility. "This must be done so someone can't take the components and put the agent back together."

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