[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 44 (Thursday, March 12, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E659]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     VEOLIA ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 12, 2009

  Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, today I am proud to honor Veolia 
Environmental Services and their facility in Port Arthur, TX, for their 
successful destruction of 1.5 million gallons of what was once the 
deadly nerve agent VX. Working in conjunction with Tri-State Motor 
Transit (TSMT) and the U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency (CMA), they 
were able to complete the project safely and on time.
  In the 1950s, the United States began to stockpile VX. Signed by the 
U.S. in 1993, The International Chemical Weapons Convention requires 
destruction of all chemical agents by participating nations by 
specified target dates. The U.S. had a stockpile of VX at the Newport 
Chemical Weapons Depot in Newport, Indiana where they could deactivate 
the chemical. They needed a facility to destroy hydrolysate, the 
caustic wastewater created by the agent's destruction.
  The CMA discussed building a $300 million facility in Indiana to 
handle the process but the terrorist attack of 2001 forced them to 
reconsider. In 2007 they awarded Veolia with a $49 million contract to 
incinerate the corrosive wastewater. The wastewater would be put in 
specialized containers and hauled more that 1,000 miles through 8 
states by TSMT to Veolia's Port Arthur facility where it would be 
destroyed.
  This is not the type of project that a community greets with open 
arms. Two other sites denied the venture due to political and community 
concerns. Public protests and a federal lawsuit almost derailed the 
project once more, but Veolia made a promise to handle the job safely, 
in accordance with all regulations and without impact to the 
environment, 18 months and 428 shipments later, the process concluded 
without a single incident of any kind.
  The project was successful on a number of levels. By utilizing the 
Port Arthur facility, taxpayers were saved close to $250 million. 
Veolia was able to assist the U.S. government in accomplishing its 
treaty obligations in an expeditious and safe manner. They also brought 
money and national attention to Southeast Texas.
  I would like to commend Veolia Environmental Services and their 
employees for their hard work and dedication during this project.
  Companies like Veolia that care about the community they serve make 
Southeast Texas such a special place.

                          ____________________