[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 249 (Friday, December 27, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79063-79064]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-32669]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (FEIS) for the Destruction of Chemical Agents and Munitions 
at Blue Grass Army Depot, KY

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This announces the availability of the FEIS that assesses the 
potential environmental impacts of the design, construction, operation 
and closure of a facility to destroy the chemical agents and munitions 
currently stored at the Blue Grass Army Depot (BGAD). The FEIS examines 
the potential environmental impacts of the following destruction 
facility alternatives: (1) Baseline incineration facility; (2) 
neutralization followed by supercritical water oxidation; (3) 
neutralization followed by supercritical water oxidation and gas phase 
chemical reduction; (4) electrochemical oxidation; and (5) no action 
(i.e., continued storage of chemical munitions at BGAD). Although the 
no action alternative is not viable under Pub. L. 990145 (DoD 
Authorization Act of 1986), it was analyzed to provide a comparison 
with the proposed action. The FEIS identifies pilot testing of 
neutralization followed by supercritical water oxidation as the 
agency's preferred alternative for destruction of chemical munitions at 
BGAD.

DATES: The waiting period for the FEIS will end 30 days after 
publication of the NOA in the Federal Register by the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency.

ADDRESSES: To obtain copies of the FEIS, contact the Program Manager 
for Chemical Demilitarization, Public Outreach and Information Office 
(ATTN: Mr. Gregory Mahall), Building E-4585, Aberdeen Proving Ground, 
Maryland 21010-4005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Gregory Mahall at 410-436-1093, by 
fax at 410-436-5122, by mail at the above listed address or by 
electronic mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In its Record of Decision (ROD) on February 
26, 1988 (53 FR 5816, February 26, 1988) for the Final Programmatic

[[Page 79064]]

Environmental Impact Statement on the Chemical Stockpile Disposal 
Program (CSDP), the Army selected on-site disposal by incineration at 
all eight chemical munition storage sites located within the 
continental United States as the method by which it will destroy its 
lethal chemical stockpile. The Army published a Notice of Intent in the 
Federal Register (65 FR 20140-41, December 4, 2000) which provided 
notice that, pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act and 
implementing regulations, it was preparing a draft site-specific EIS 
for the Blue Grass Chemical Agent Disposal Facility. The Army published 
a Draft EIS to assess the site-specific health and environmental 
impacts of on-site disposal of the chemical agents and munitions stored 
at the BGAD on May 31, 2002. All public comments received on the DEIS 
have been addressed in the FEIS.
    The Program Manager for Assembled Chemical Weapons Assessment 
(ACWA) prepared a separate EIS. The ACWA EIS is for follow-on pilot 
testing of the ACWA Program pursuant to the process established by 
Congress in Pub. L. 104-208 and 105-261. The ACWA EIS emphasizes the 
feasibility of pilot testing one or more of the ACWA technologies at 
one or more sites. One of the four sites evaluated in the ACWA EIS was 
the BGAD. Information provided by the ACWA Program concerning the 
neutralization technologies provided the basis for analysis of the 
neutralization technologies and comparison with incineration in this 
site-specific EIS for stockpile destruction at Blue Grass. This site-
specific EIS and the ACWA EIS serve complementary purposes.
    The decision for the technology to be implemented to destroy the 
chemical weapons stockpile at BGAD will be made by the DAE and a ROD 
will be signed following the end of the 30-day waiting period.

    Dated: December 19, 2002.
Richard E. Newsome,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health) OASA (I&E).
[FR Doc. 02-32669 Filed 12-26-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M