File photo courtesy Global Security
Newport Chemical Depot circa 1997, location of recent demilitarization project taken on by the federal government in compliance with international doctrine. Demilitarization was completed August 8, 2008.
On August 8, 2008, the US Army confirmed that the last ton container of nerve agent VX had been destroyed at the Newport Chemical Depot in Newport, Ind. This event marked the completion of a process which began in May 2005, with the beginning of agent disposal operations. This process was also a larger part of the effort to completely de-militarize the Newport facility, which included the destruction of the chemical production plant located on the premises, which had not been in use since the 1960’s.
For the past forty years, the Newport Chemical Depot has stored 1,269 tons of nerve agent VX in 1,960 steel containers. Nerve agent VX is an odorless, tasteless liquid that is classified as a persistent agent, a chemical that can remain on clothes and other surfaces for extended periods. It interferes with the proper operation of the enzyme that acts as the body’s ‘off switch’ for glands and muscles, effectively over-stimulating them until they can no longer function. Exposure to VX can build up in the body, and it is especially toxic if absorbed through the skin.
Because of the danger of this chemical, disposing of such quantities of it was a difficult undertaking. In general, de-militarization processes like these are challenging because of the need to provide maximum protection for the workers, the community, and the environment. Also, the selected technology for disposing of the VX, neutralization, had not been previously used. This required the construction of a plant specifically designed for the neutralization process. In this process, the VX is mixed with heated sodium hydroxide and water in a reactor. The resulting product of caustic wastewater is then shipped to Veolia Environmental Services in Port Arthur, Texas for final disposal. Despite these intricacies, the process was an overwhelming success, being completed in three years and three months without any agent-related injuries or illnesses.
The impact of this historic undertaking is twofold. First, the Army will receive Chemical Weapons Convention treaty credit for the chemical destruction when the caustic wastewater is removed from the shipping containers at Veolia, after which the Army will apply to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons for a final inspection to certify complete destruction of the stockpile at the Newport facility.
Despite the international implications of the end of the neutralization process, the most important effect of completion is the impact on the citizens of Newport. According to Terry Arthur, Public Affairs Officer of the Newport Chemical Depot, “The risk of continued storage of the Newport stockpile has been eliminated… The Newport community lived for more than 40 years with 1,269.3 tons of one of the deadliest chemicals created by man, and now it’s gone.”
Doubtless, the elimination of the chemical stockpile at Newport without incident is a great relief for its citizens. However, the process is not completely finished: it will now enter a closure phase in which buildings and equipment will be dismantled, and various wastes related to the neutralization process will be disposed of. It is expected to take another 18 to 20 months before the de-militarization of the Newport Chemical Depot is complete.