Published: September 12, 2007 07:32 am      

Citizens to endure fifth chemical study

Some citizens members of the Chemical Destruction Community Advisory Board expressed exasperation Tuesday after being told that the government would conduct yet another study of one phase of the process for destroying the 523 tons of chemical weapons agent stored at the Blue Grass Army Depot.

The CDCAB, meeting at Eastern Kentucky University, received a periodic update from the Defense Department’s acting manager for neutralization of the chemical agent stored here and at another depot in Colorado. The group also heard from the programs local site manager and the contractor’s local project manager.

Kevin Flamm, acting manager for the Pentagon’s Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives program, said the National Research Council and a private contractor would look at whether off-site treatment of the waste generated by neutralization could save money and/or shorten the project.

After the chemical agent is demilitarized by mixing it with sodium hydroxide, a toxic waste will result. Previously the government had proposed to treat the waste on site with a process caused super-critical water oxidation.

“It seems to me that we’ve studied this to death,” said CDCAB member Doug Hindman. “The four previous studies have served only to delay the project and produced even more uncertainty,” he said. “People tell me they’re disgusted with the whole process and just want to get on with it.”

Flamm said the study, similar to one completed earlier this year, would not cause additional delay and could save time as well as money.

CDCAB member Jeanne Hibberd questioned the motivation for an additional study that would include an assessment of the community’s perception of the risk involved in transporting the waste.

“Have the previous studies produced the wrong answers?” she asked. “Are you going to do study after study until you get the result you want? The people here have consistently said they do not want these materials to be shipped.”

The need for another study of off-site waste treatment, to be completed by February 2008, was caused in part by the project’s new, prolonged schedule, Flamm said.

Members still showed signs of frustration from their June meeting when they were told officially that the project would be delayed by up to six years, with destruction not completed until 2023.

“More than 20 years ago, the Army said these weapons had to be incinerated because their deteriorated condition made them unstable,” said CDCAB co-chair Craig Williams. “The process then seemed to be driven by the risked these weapons posed to the local community. Now, costs and scheduling seems to be the Defense Department’s greater concerns.

Williams said U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell has introduced legislation that would require complete destruction of chemical weapons by 2017. If passed, the requirement could help shape future budget proposals, Williams said.

In spite of the project’s delay, much progress is being made, said Mark Seely, project manager for Bechtel Parsons Bluegrass.

Construction of an access road is complete except for guardrail work. Water and sewer lines as well as perimeter fencing and roadway concrete work are all complete. Construction of the access control building and vehicle access security barriers are more than 80 percent complete.

Members of the CDCAB visited the project site in late August. “At times, it seems like we’re not getting any place with this project, but it’s impressive to see how much work has been done at the site,” Williams said.

Bill Robinson can be reached at brobinson@richmondregister.com or at 623-1669, Ext. 267.