97-19767. Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Demilitarization of Chemical Agents and Munitions Stored at Pine Bluff Arsenal, Arkansas

[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 144 (Monday, July 28, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 40336]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-19767]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the 
Demilitarization of Chemical Agents and Munitions Stored at Pine Bluff 
Arsenal, Arkansas

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Record of Decision.

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SUMMARY: Consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(NEPA) and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, 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 full-scale chemical agent disposal facility located in the 
northeastern area of the Pine Bluff Arsenal (PBA), Arkansas (identified 
as Site A in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)). The Army has 
determined that the Revised Final EIS adequately addresses the 
potential impacts of the Army's actions relating to the disposal of 
chemical agents and munitions stored at PBA. The Army has also 
determined that the conclusions in the Revised Final EIS establish that 
the decision to implement on-site incineration at site A provides 
maximum protection of the environment, the general public, and workers 
at the disposal facility. The Army plans to dispose of 3,850 tons of 
chemical agents stored at PBA consistent with the terms of the ROD.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A comparison was made of the potential 
impacts of six different locations at PBA for the facility. The six 
locations were identified using criteria based on safety and 
compatibility with current PBA activities. The selected site, located 
in the northeastern part of the Arsenal, has the advantage of being 
previously disturbed by construction of the BZ disposal facility and 
the ready availability of utilities. Additionally, it was found to 
result in equivalent or lower potential adverse ecological impacts as 
compared to the other five sites evaluated. Potential impacts from 
alternative operating schedules for the proposed disposal facility were 
also evaluated. It was found that operating the plant continuously on a 
daily basis would result in lower human health risks than operating the 
plant only for one shift. Based on these impact analyses, it is 
concluded that conducting disposal operations at the northern site for 
three shifts per day is the preferred environmental alternative for 
implementing on-site disposal.

COPIES: To obtain copies of the ROD, contact the Program Manager for 
Chemical Demilitarization, Data and Document Control Center, at (410) 
671-4901 or Mr. Jeff Lindblad, Pine Bluff Chemical Activity, at (501) 
540-2429. For more information, contact Ms. Catherine Herlinger, Office 
of the Program Manager for Chemical Demilitarization, at (410) 671-
3629.

    Dated: July 21, 1997.
Raymond J. Fatz,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health), OASA (I, L&E).
[FR Doc. 97-19767 Filed 7-25-97; 8:45 am]
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