98-34111. Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for Pilot Testing Neutralization/Supercritical Water Oxidation of VX Agent at Newport Chemical Depot, Indiana

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 249 (Tuesday, December 29, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71624-71625]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-34111]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement for Pilot Testing Neutralization/Supercritical Water 
Oxidation of VX Agent at Newport Chemical Depot, Indiana

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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[[Page 71625]]

SUMMARY: This announces the availability of the Final Environmental 
Impact Statement (FESS) which assesses the potential environmental 
impacts of the construction and operation of a facility to pilot test 
the chemical neutralization process followed by supercritical water 
oxidation (SCWO) as a potential disposal technology for bulk agent VX 
stored at Newport Chemical Depot (NECD).

DATES: The public review period will end 30 days following the 
publication of the Environmental Protection Agency's Notice of 
Availability in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: To obtain copies of the FEIS 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 [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed facility will be used to 
demonstrate, as part of a research and development program, the 
neutralization process followed by SCWO to destroy VX agent currently 
stored in containers at NECD.
    The alternatives considered in this FEIS are the proposed action 
and no action (continued storage of VX in ton containers). Although the 
no action alternative is not viable under Pub. L. 99-145, it was 
analyzed to provide a comparison with the proposed action. In addition, 
the no action alternative would not comply with Pub. L. 102-484, which 
specifies that the Army must consider using a technological alternative 
to incineration.
    The FEIS concludes that VX stored in bulk containers can be pilot 
tested at NECD using the neutralization process, followed by SCWO, in a 
safe and environmentally acceptable manner. At one time, the option of 
sending the neutralization hydrolysate to an off-site biotreatment 
facility was under consideration by the Army. However, technical and 
programmatic evaluations have concluded that off-site biotreatment is 
not suitable at this time. Therefore, off-site biotreatment is not 
addressed further in this EIS.
    A Notice of Availability was published on June 12, 1998 (63 FR 
32207), which provided notice that the Draft EIS was available for 
comment. Comments from the DEIS have been considered and responses are 
included in this FEIS. After a 30-day waiting period the Army will 
publish a Record of Decision.
    Copies of the FEIS may also be obtained by calling the Newport 
Outreach Office at [phone]. Questions may be forwarded to Office 
of the Program Manager for Chemical Demilitarization, ATTN: SFAE-CD-P) 
(Ms. Herlinger) Building E4585, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 
21010-5401; or via-e-mail at [e-mail].

    Dated: December 22, 1998.
Raymond J. Fatz,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health) OASA(I,L&E).
[FR Doc. 98-34111 Filed 12-28-98; 8:45 am]
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