By Karen Hensel
24 Hour News 8

(Newport) - Thursday morning marked a huge milestone for the state when destruction of the deadly chemical nerve agent VX was set to begin.

The process is nerve-wracking, because even though workers will be well-protected during destruction, you constantly remind yourself just one pindrop of VX on your skin will kill you.

At 9:00 am in Newport, the first of 1600 tonne-containers was scheduled to be moved into the cradle and glove box. A handful of army officials and contractors were also scheduled to be in the room, some actually opening the first container, others with a checklist.

It takes 15 minutes just to open the container. "They operate in gloves and use special wrenches to take apart the valves,” explained a contractor.

Working through special gloves in a sealed box, the workers wear cotton coveralls. Each has a gas mask and antidote as a precaution.

The Army has ordered the start-up to be very slow and deliberate by design. This is a pilot project. Working slowly helps ensure safety for the workers and residents.

Two valves are key. Hoses are connected to drain from the barrel. Draining begins Thursday and on just one container. It won't be complete until Friday.

The VX will then be neutralized, fed into a reactor and mixed with hot sodium hydroxide and water. Samples will be taken every two hours and sent to a lab on-site.

Tests will be performed to be sure all of the VX is destroyed. That’s important since scientists and government agencies have sounded the alarm trace elements of VX might still remain.

"We have verification chambers and test air and surface of the tonne-container to be sure it is completely decontaminated before it is moved into the room,” said the contractor.

One container at a time, 1,200 tons of VX, the Army estimates it will take two and a half years to destroy it all.

The VX has been stored in Newport for forty years. Residents are told if something goes wrong, stay inside and shut off airflow to your home. The Army won't let anyone on site during the destruction process. However, they will have mounted cameras inside the destruction chamber.
 
News 8 has will be on site Thursday. Be sure to watch 24 Hour News 8 at 5:00 and 6:00 pm. We will have the video of this milestone for the state.

Project Security - Read I-Team 8's reports about Indiana's weapons of mass destruction