Veolia Environmental Services in Port Arthur, Texas, has completed incineration of more than 1.5 million gallons of wastewater produced through chemical neutralization of VX nerve agent in Indiana, the Port Arthur News reported Monday (see GSN, Dec. 10, 2008).
The hydrolysate waste was produced at the Newport Chemical Depot, which completed disposal operations in August 2008 (see GSN, Aug. 12, 2008).
Transportation and incineration of the caustic waste proved controversial, but was finished safely and on schedule, according to Veolia.
“Throughout the project, our team remained committed to our initial promise to the Army: to safely transport and handle these materials without impact to the surrounding community or environment and in compliance with all regulations. In the end, our word was true," said Jim Bell, head of Veolia ES Technical Solutions (Mary Meaux, Port Arthur News, Feb.9).
The Port Arthur plant within the next two months is also set to incinerate up to 8,000 gallons of waste produced during neutralization of sarin nerve agent stored in three containers at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Kentucky, the Beaumont Enterprise reported (see GSN, Feb. 9).
The incinerator will also be used to dispose of personal protective gear from Newport (Beaumont Enterprise, Feb. 9).