Plan Revealed to Destroy Chemical Weapons
Kylie Gandolf
News Channel 36
Jan 22, 23:15 PM EST

Residents in the Richmond area voiced their concerns during a public meeting Thursday night.

The company hired to neutralize the chemcals at the Blue Grass Army Depot met with public Thursday night to explain the process.

Neutralizing the chemicals at the depot is a very complicated, scientific process, but the end result is the most important part: destroying the dangerous chemicals.

The containers look ominous, but it's what's inside that worries Richmond residents.

"A drop the size of a pinhead will kill you. That's why it's scary," says Doug Hindman, a Richmond resident.

The Department of Defense hired the company Bechtel Parsons to build the new plant. Its mission: to safely destroy the 523 tons of nerve and blister agent housed at the depot.  

"We feel confident the technology we're designing, building, and will use for processing is a safe technology, and the citizens of Richmond will be comfortable with what we're doing," says Tom Kurkjy, an employee with Bechtel Parsons.   

But some residents are still worried.
 
"We don't think they're completely safe," says April Payne, a Richmond resident. "Things happen and we don't feel the state or county is prepared should that happen."

But the company insists the plant will be safe. The Department of Defense says neutralization is the safest method to destroy the chemicals.

The new plant will also create over 600 new jobs in the Richmond area.

"The training they will have will insure mistakes will not happen," says Kurkjy.

But some fear one small mistake could create disaster.

"It's going to be human error," says Payne. "That's what it will be. We're not perfect."

But the company insists their employees will be well-trained.

"They will go through extensive training," says Kurkjy. "There will be a lot of reviews of their training certifications."

And they'll practice disaster drills just in case. Hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst.

The neutralization plant is still a long way from becoming  reality. Construction will start about a year rom now, but the entire process won't be completed until 2012.