Further CW Waste Disposal Study Planned

The U.S. Defense Department has authorized further study of strategies for treating wastewater produced by chemical weapons disposal at planned facilities in Colorado and Kentucky, the Pueblo Chieftain reported today (see GSN, Feb. 2).

Chemical neutralization plants are scheduled to begin operations in 2014 at the Pueblo Chemical Depot in Colorado and the Blue Grass Army Depot in Kentucky.  They are expected to produce millions of gallons of hydrolysate waste that would have to be treated.

The Pentagon has estimated that it could save $52 million at Blue Grass alone by shipping the waste to another location for disposal instead of building an on-site plant.  Two studies issued earlier this year questioned that finding, reporting that potential lawsuits and changing regulatory permits could add years to the treatment effort and eliminate savings.

The Colorado Chemical Demilitarization Citizens Advisory Commission intends to discuss the Pentagon’s plan for another study at its Sept. 26 meeting, said Chairwoman Irene Kornelly.

“I asked them if they were waiting to get the right answer back,” she said.  “It seems to me I thought we’d put this to bed several times but it’s coming again” (John Norton, Pueblo Chieftain, Sept. 18).

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