REP. ANDREWS REQUESTS ARMY TO DISCARD FLAWED PLAN TO DISPOSE VX BYPRODUCT IN DELAWARE RIVER CITING GREAT RISKS TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF SOUTH JERSEY RESIDENTS

I believe that the health and safety of South Jersey residents should never be compromised. That is why I believe that the flawed plan to neutralize the VX nerve agent and dispose of it in our Delaware River should not be implemented. 

Out of grave concern for the health and safety of South Jersey residents, I, along with area lawmakers, requested that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provide an evaluation report after studying the affects of this present plan.

On Wednesday, April 6, 2005, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released their findings in a federal report. The CDC’s evaluation report of the proposed plan revealed concerns over the possibility that trace elements of the deadly VX nerve agent would be present in the treated byproduct discharged into the Delaware River, our river from which 60 percent of our region gets its drinking water. Under this plan, threats to our environment and the potential for water pollution are immense. As a result of the study, the CDC could not recommend proceeding with the treatment and disposal plan until deficiencies regarding ecological risks are addressed.

The study determined that transportation of the wastewater product can be safely transported from the Army’s Newport Chemical Depot in Indiana to Dupont’s Treatment Facility in Salem County. However, the issue here is not whether the wastewater can be safely transported, but rather, whether it will endanger our health, pollute our drinking water and corrupt our environment once disposed of in the Delaware River.

As a result of a 1985 Congressional mandate, the United States Army has been destroying stockpiles and facilities of chemical agents for fear that current stockpiles may be targets for terrorist attacks. As always, the United States should take every precautionary measure available to prevent any terrorist attack by neutralizing VX, but not under the means of this proposal.

After carefully reviewing the CDC’s extensive report, I consequently reaffirm my commitment to oppose this flawed plan because the health risks are too alarming-- even the smallest contact with the nerve agent could result in human mortality. For this reason, I have requested that the Army discard the Dupont Disposal Plan.

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