A former Newport Chemical Depot employee says chemicals are buried throughout the area, and that land could one day belong to Vermillion County for development.

The Federal Government could turn over the site to Vermillion County. But until that happens, the U.S. Army is making sure the ground is safe from deadly chemicals. And one former employee says it shouldn't be overlooked.

For decades the deadly nerve agent VX has been stored at the Newport Chemical Depot. And for years, Tom Burch worked and lived the chemical as a lead lab technician. "Like always when you're handling something that dangerous that one drop could kill three elephants, a little nerves particularly when you start out," explains Tom Burch.

And Tom Burch knows if the federal government hands over the land to Vermillion County, dangers could be lurking underground.

Saying when employees neutralized VX in the 60's the remains were buried. "It was neutralized then pumped 6,000 some feet into the ground. After I left it became so loaded they couldn't pressure pump it down so they filled it up with cement."

As disturbing as that sounds, Tom Burch says that's not the problem. What's even more shocking is what's buried in at least four sites..the remnants of a plastic explosive called RDX. "It's a nitrogen compound that breaks down and over time goes into the water."

In 1996 the Army reported three state sites where chemical warfare waste might be buried, and Newport is on the list.

That's why the Army is investigating, to try and make the land chemical warfare free.

Action 10 News spoke with a Vermillion County Commissioner Dennis Marietta who said, if the land is given to Vermillion County, the property will be turned into economic development and possibly a nature preserve or park.

Action 10 News was unable to reach the Vermillion County Economic Development Director for comment.