24 March 1998
Source: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/aaces002.html

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[Federal Register: March 24, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 56)]
[Notices]
[Page 14073-14074]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24mr98-41]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact
Statement for Pilot Testing of Neutralization/Biotreatment of Mustard
Agent at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability (NOA).

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SUMMARY: This announces the availability of the Draft Environmental
Impact Statement (DEIS) which assesses the potential environmental
impacts of the design, construction, systemization and operation of a
facility to pilot test the neutralization/biotreatment process of
mustard agent using water at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), Maryland.
The proposed facility will be used to demonstrate, as part of a
research and development program, the feasibility of adopting the
neutralization process using water, followed by biotreatment, to
destroy mustard agent currently stored in two containers at APG.
    The alternatives considered in this DEIS are 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. In addition, the no
action alternative is considered to be deferral of research and
development of the neutralization process as an alternative technology.

DATES: The public comment period for the DEIS will end 45 days after
publication of the NAO in the Federal Register by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency. Public comments received on the DEIS
will be considered and addressed in the final EIS and considered by the
Army in its Record of Decision.

ADDRESSES: To obtain copies of the DEIS, contact Ms. Nancy Hoffman at
Edgewood Community Outreach Office at (410) 676-6800 or write to:
Woodbridge Station, 1011 Woodbridge Center Way, Edgewood, Maryland
21040.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Office of the Program Manager for Chemical Demilitarization, ATTN:
SFAE-CD-P (Ms. Catherine Herlinger), Building E4585, Aberdeen Proving
Ground, Maryland 21010-5401; telephone: (800) 488-0648 or (410) 671-
1479; e-mail: cherling@cdra.apgea.army.mil.

[[Page 14074]]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DEIS concludes that mustard stored in
bulk containers can be pilot tested at APG using the neutralization
(hydrolysis) process with water, followed by biotreatment, in a safe
and environmentally acceptable manner. At one time, the option of
sending the hydrolysate to an off-site biotreatment facility was under
consideration by the Army. However, the Army has been unable to
identify a suitable off-site biotreatment facility that would accept
the neutralization hydrolysate, and also conform to the safety and
environmental protection requirements of the proposed action.
Therefore, off-site biotreatment is not addressed further in this DEIS.

    Dated: March 18, 1998.
Richard E. Newsome,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and
Occupational Health) OASA (I, L&E).
[FR Doc. 98-7597 Filed 3-23-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M
