Demilitarization process, chemical

Slag is a molten, glasslike material that forms inside the LICs from the burning of SDS. When cooled to ambient temperature, it forms a solid. Refractory is a bricklike material used to line the inside of the LICs to provide insulation from the heat. As slag accumulates and the refractory gradually corrodes and is replaced, these waste materials are removed from the LIC. Slag and refractory are listed hazardous wastes in some states because they are derived from the chemical demilitarization process. These wastes typically are shipped to a hazardous waste landfill. 

Description of the Demilitarization Processes—Baseline and Neutralization Conrad Whyne, Deputy Program Manager for Chemical Stockpile Elimination... 

In addition, the prototype demilitarization facility has been designed and constructed at Tooele Army Depot, Utah, and is currently being operated in a series of test programs. These test programs are designed to develop and refine the various demilitarization process technologies that would be required for the eventual disposal of the current stockpile of chemical munitions. The facility will also accomplish the disposal of the unserviceable munitions at the Depot. 

The Army has sought to build in the process of learning by experience to avoid accidents where possible, and to avoid repeating them in any case. The centerpiece of this effort, the programmatic lessons learned (PLL) database, is admirable as a personnel-training tool but requires further modification to improve its accessibility (see Chapter 4). Despite considerable effort in plant design and personnel training, mistakes have been made and problems have occurred in the chemical demilitarization process. 

Finding (Pueblo) PH-14. The Parsons/Honeywell WHEAT technology appears to be capable of demilitarizing the chemical weapons stored at Pueblo Chanical Depot The combination of hydrolysis of agent hydrolysis of energetics, and biotreatment of hydrolysates can be a safe and effective process. 

Potential Problems Relating to Obsolescence in Chemical Demilitarization Processing Operations... 

The Army terminology for destruction of obsolete weapons Is "demilitarization". This term encompasses all the steps required to disassemble and safely destroy or decontaminate the component materials of which the munition was constructed. National Academy of Sciences and Department of the Army Guidance for demilitarization of obsolete chemical weapons (t) requires absolute safety and security, assurance of total containment of agent during processing, maximum protection of operating personnel and Incontrovertible evidence verifying the destruction of the toxic wastes. 

In 1996, persuaded by the public opposition in Lexington, Kentucky, and Pueblo, Colorado, Congress enacted Public Law 104-201, which instructed the Department of Defense (DoD) to conduct an assessment of the chemical demilitarization program for destruction of assembled chemical munitions and of the alternative demilitarization technologies and processes (other than incineration) that could be used for the destruction of the lethal chemical agents that are associated with these munitions. The Army established a... 

Closure Alternatives, 14 Risk Assessment, 14 Acquisition Strategy, 14 Background, 14 Closure Acquisition, 14 Closure Materiel Procurement, 15 Chemical Demilitarization Procurement Process, 16 Categories of Contamination, 16 Permitting Considerations, 16 Preparation of Detailed Engineering Requirements, 18 Sampling and Analysis Plans, 18... 

Recommendation 7. The Program Manager for Chemical Demilitarization should continue to work with the Operations Support Command to make procurement processing as efficient and responsive as possible. 

Although these issues are discussed in the context of the JACADS closure process, they are applicable to any facility that is to be permanently closed, whether the property remains with the original owner or is transferred to another. These issues require timely resolution for closure to be completed safely and cost effectively. Early in its closure study, the committee prepared a letter report addressed to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Chemical Demilitarization. Delivered on May 4, 2000, the letter expressed the committee s concerns as they relate specifically to JACADS (NRC, 2000a) ... 

Because the scope of work for JACADS closure is too uncertain to permit fixed-price competition, contracts for services under a cost-reimbursable contract with an award fee will be used (Bushman, 2000). The entire process of chemical demilitarization has been a novel experience, both for the Army and its contractors. Consequently, a fixed-price contract for the first closure of a disposal facility was not practical. Fixed-price contracting for JACADS closure... 

The ACW II Committee advises the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) on its ACWA Program. Since 1997, the ACW II Committee and its predecessor (the ACW I Committee) have followed the development of several alternative (to incineration) technologies for the demilitarization of assembled chemical weapons. In parallel with this modified baseline process report, the ACW II Committee is preparing a report to evaluate the two ACWA technologies being considered for Pueblo. 

In the modified baseline process for Pueblo, frozen munitions will be conveyed to six agent accessing machines operating in parallel and sized to handle 27 munitions per hour each (Tomanek, 2000a, 2000b). These will not be baseline system MDMs but new machines that would have to be developed and tested. Prototype testing would take place at the Chemical Demilitarization Training Facility in Aberdeen, Maryland. 

Finding 4-4. Some community leaders perceive that the office of the Program Manager for Chemical Demilitarization has not been adequately responsive and forthcoming regarding information requests from concerned citizens and CAC members. Presentations to the public describing the modified baseline process have not been as clear or informative as possible. 

U.S. Army. 2000c. Responses to NRC Questions on die Modified Base Line Process for Pueblo, October 4. Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. U.S. Army Program Manager for Chemical Demilitarization. 

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