[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 184 (Wednesday, September 23, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 50892]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-25394]



[[Page 50892]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for Pilot 
Testing Neutralization/Biotreatment of Mustard Agent at Aberdeen 
Proving Ground, Maryland

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Record of Decision.

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SUMMARY: 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 facility to pilot test the 
neutralization/biotreatment process of mustard agent using water at 
Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), Maryland.

ADDRESSES: To obtain copies of the ROD, contact Ms. Nancy Hoffman, 
Edgewood Community Outreach Office, Woodbridge, Station, 1011 
Woodbridge Center Way, Edgewood, Maryland 21040.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Catherine Herlinger at (800) 488-0648 or (410) 436-2583.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Army has determined that the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) adequately addresses the potential 
impacts of the Army's actions relating to the disposal of mustard agent 
stored at APG. The Army has also determined that the conclusions in the 
Final EIS establish that the decision to pilot test the neutralization/
biotreatment process for mustard agent using water at the preferred 
site provides maximum protection to the environment, the general 
public, and workers at the pilot test facility. The Army plans to 
dispose of 615 tons of mustard agent stored at APG consistent with the 
terms of the ROD.
    The alternatives considered in the Final EIS were no action (i.e., 
continued storage of mustard agent at APG) and locating the pilot 
facility at one of two potential sites within APG. Although the no 
action alternative is not viable under Public Law 99-145 (the 
Department of Defense Authorization Act of 1986), it was analyzed to 
provide a comparison with the proposed action. A comparison was made of 
the potential impacts of two different locations at APG for the 
facility. The locations were identified using criteria based on safety 
and compatibility with current APG activities. The selected site, 
located on the Bush River Peninsula, has the advantage of being 
adjacent to the Chemical Agent Storage Yard, where the mustard agent is 
stored in ton containers. Additionally, it was determined to result in 
lower potential impacts to human health, land, water and ecological 
resources. Detonations of explosives and ordnance and testing munitions 
have previously contaminated the alternative site. Site clean up and 
remediation activities are not currently scheduled prior to 
construction. This would result in increased project duration and 
significantly impact the Chemical Stockpile Disposal Program mission's 
schedule date targeted for December 2004. Based on these impact 
analyses, it is concluded that conducting pilot test operations at the 
selected site is the preferred environmental alternative for 
implementing the neutralization/biotreatment process using water.
    Copies of the ROD may also be obtained by calling Ms. Hoffman, 
Edgewood Community Outreach Office, at (410) 676-6800.
    Questions may be forwarded to Office of the Program Manager for 
Chemical Demilitarization, ATTN: SFAE-CD-P (Ms. Herlinger), Building 
E4585, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010-5401; or via e-mail at 
[email protected].

    Dated: September 16, 1998.
Richard E. Newsome,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health) OASA (I, L&E).
[FR Doc. 98-25394 Filed 9-22-98; 8:45 am]
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