[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 17, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 7862]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-3849]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for Pilot 
Testing Neutralization/Supercritical Water Oxidation of VX Agent at the 
Newport Chemical Depot, Indiana

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Record of decision.

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SUMMARY: This announces the availability of the Record of Decision 
(ROD) which documents and explains the Department of the Army's 
decision to construct and operate a facility to pilot test the chemical 
neutralization process followed by supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) 
as a potential disposal technology for agent VX stored at the Newport 
Chemical Depot (NECD).

ADDRESSES: To obtain copies of the ROD, contact Ms. Mona Harney, 
Newport Outreach Office, 140 South Main Street, Newport, Indiana 47966.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Catherine Herlinger at (800) 488-
0648 or (410) 463-2583.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Army has determined that the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) adequately addresses the potential 
impacts of the Army's actions relating to the disposal of agency VX 
stored at NECD. The Army has also determined that the conclusions in 
the Final EIS establish that the decision to pilot test the chemical 
neutralization process followed by SCWO at the preferred site provides 
maximum protection to the environment, the general public, and workers 
at the pilot test facility. The Army plans to dispose of up to 615 tons 
of agent VX stored at NECD consistent with the terms of the ROD. The 
alternatives considered in this Final EIS are the proposed action and 
no action (continued storage of VX in ton containers). Although the no 
action alternative is not viable under Public Law 99-145, it was 
analyzed to provide a comparison with the proposed action. In addition, 
the no action alternative would not comply with Public Law 102-484, 
which specifies that Army must consider using a technological 
alternative to incineration.
    At one time, the option of sending the neutralization hydrolysate 
to an off-site treatment facility was under consideration by the Army. 
However, technical and programmatic evaluations concluded that off-site 
treatment is not suitable at this time. Based on the results of these 
impact analyses, it is concluded that conducting pilot test operations 
at NECD is the preferred environmental alternative for implementing the 
neutralization process, followed by SCWO.
    Copies of the ROD can be obtained by calling the Newport Outreach 
Office at (765) 492-4445. Questions may be forwarded to the Office of 
the Program Manager for Chemical Demilitarization, ATTN: SFAE-CD-P (Ms. 
Herlinger), Building E4585, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010-
4005; or via e-mail at [email protected].

    Dated: February 10, 1999.
Patrick J. Wakefield,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health) OASA (I,L&E).
[FR Doc. 99-3849 Filed 2-16-99; 8:45 am]
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