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Suggested Citation:"Appendix B: Public Forum." National Research Council. 1994. Recommendations for the Disposal of Chemical Agents and Munitions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2348.
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B
Public Forum

PURPOSE

Media coverage, Army reporting on interactions with the public, and letters and calls to the Committee on Review and Evaluation of the Army Chemical Stockpile Disposal Program (Stockpile Committee) and Committee on Alternative Chemical Demilitarization Technologies (Alternatives Committee) have made it obvious that the public has many concerns about the chemical stockpile and plans for its disposal. As part of its deliberations, the Stockpile Committee wanted an opportunity to discuss those concerns directly with the interested parties. One step to enhance the committee's understanding was to hold a public forum.

On June 30, 1993, an Alternative Technologies Forum was held in the main building of the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. The forum represented a major undertaking by the Alternatives and Stockpile Committees to obtain public input and comment. The morning session summarized and received comment on the National Research Council report Alternative Technologies for the Destruction of Chemical Agents and Munitions (NRC, 1993a). The afternoon was devoted to explaining the Stockpile Committee's plans and processes for producing its final report for the Army. The public commented on and suggested revisions in some of the committee's plans, both at the forum and through written submissions.

Suggested Citation:"Appendix B: Public Forum." National Research Council. 1994. Recommendations for the Disposal of Chemical Agents and Munitions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2348.
×

AGENDA Public Forum, June 30, 1993 Washington, D.C.

The following committee and U.S. Army presentations were made during the one-day forum:

Morning Session

(a) Briefing by Dr. John P. Longwell, Chairman, Committee on Alternative Chemical Demilitarization Technologies (Alternatives Committee), Review of committee's report Alternative Technologies for the Destruction of Chemical Agents and Munitions. This presentation was followed by a question and answer period.

Afternoon Session

(b) Briefing by Dr. Carl R. Peterson, Chairman, Committee on Review and Evaluation of the Army Chemical Stockpile Disposal Program (Stockpile Committee), including discussion on (1) introduction and background of the chemical disposal program and the Stockpile Committee's involvement in recommendations for alternative technologies; (2) description of the munitions; and (3) the technology evaluation considerations.

(c) Briefing by Mr. Charles Baronian, Program Manager and Technical Director for Chemical Demilitarization, on the Army's plans for its report to Congress and on the Army's mechanism and process for public participation.

(d) Briefing by Dr. B. John Garrick, Member, Stockpile Committee," Quantitative Risk Assessment."

A question and answer period followed the afternoon briefing session.

ATTENDEES

The forum was conducted by both the Alternatives and the Stockpile Committees. Attendees were as follows:

Committee on Alternative Chemical Demilitarization Technologies

Dr. John P. Longwell, Chairman

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Dr. George Apostolakis

University of California, Los Angeles

Dr. Joseph F. Bunnett

University of California, Santa Cruz

Dr. Peter S. Daley

Waste Management International

Dr. Gene H. Dyer

Bechtel Corporation, Retired

Dr. David S. Kosson

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Dr. Walter G. May

University of Illinois

Dr. Matthew Meselson

Harvard University

Dr. Henry Shaw

New Jersey Institute of Technology

Suggested Citation:"Appendix B: Public Forum." National Research Council. 1994. Recommendations for the Disposal of Chemical Agents and Munitions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2348.
×

Dr. Thomas O. Tiernan

Wright State University

Dr. Barry M. Trost*

Stanford University

Dr. James R. Wild

Texas A & M University

Committee on Review and Evaluation of the Army Chemical Stockpile Disposal Program

Dr. Carl R. Peterson, Chairman

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Dr. Elisabeth M. Drake

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Dr. Colin G. Drury

University of Buffalo

Mr. Gene H. Dyer

Bechtel Corporation, Retired

MG Vincent E. Falter

U.S. Army, Retired

Dr. Ann Fisher

The Pennsylvania State University

Dr. B. John Garrick

PLG, Inc.

Dr. John P. Longwell

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Dr. Richard S. Magee

New Jersey Institute of Technology

Dr. Alvin Mushkatel

Arizona State University

Mr. Peter J. Niemiec

Greenberg, Glusker, Fields, Claman and Machtinger

Dr. George Parshall

E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Retired

Dr. Gavriel Salvendy*

Purdue University

Committee Staff

Mr. Donald L. Siebenaler, Study Director

Dr. James J. Zucchetto, Co-Study Director, Alternatives Committee

Ms. Ann Covalt, Technical Writer/Editor

Ms. Margo Francesco, Senior Program Assistant

NRC's Commission on Engineering and Technical Systems

Mr. Archie L. Wood, Executive Director

NRC's Board on Army Science and Technology

Mr. Bruce Braun, Director

Mr. Tracy Wilson, Senior Program Officer

NRC's Office of News and Public Information

Mr. Lee Tune, Media Relations Associate

* 

Unable to attend.

Suggested Citation:"Appendix B: Public Forum." National Research Council. 1994. Recommendations for the Disposal of Chemical Agents and Munitions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2348.
×

Invited Attendees

Department of the Army

Mr. Charles Baronian, Program Manager and Technical Director for Chemical Demilitarization

COL James Coverstone, Assistant Deputy for Chemical Demilitarization, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Installations, Logistics and Environment)

Mr. Mark Evans, Special Assistant to the Program Manager, Office of the Program Manager for Chemical Demilitarization

Mr. Wayne Jennings, Chief, Program Planning Division, for Non-Stockpile Chemical Material, U.S. Army Chemical Material Destruction Agency

Ms. Diane Kotras, Physical Scientist, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, The Pentagon

MAJ Jean-Luc Ontiveros, Acting Chief, Engineering and Technology Division, Office of the Program Manager for Chemical Demilitarization

Ms. Margo Robinson, Program Analyst, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Installations, Logistics and Environment)

Ms. Marilyn Tischbin, Chief, Public Affairs Office, Office of the Program Manager for Chemical Demilitarization

Congressional

Mr. Alan Dayton, on behalf of Senator Robert Bennett, State of Utah

Mr. Ken Lane, on behalf of Senator Benjamin Campbell, State of Colorado

Ms. Lasca Low, on behalf of Congressman John Myers, State of Indiana

Ms. Vickie Plunkett, on behalf of Congressman Glen Browder, State of Alabama

State of Alabama

Dr. Doris Gertler, Families Concerned About Nerve Gas Incineration, Anniston

Mr. William Gerald Hardy, Alabama Department of Environmental Management, Land Division, Montgomery

Mr. Jim Harmon, Families Concerned About Nerve Gas Incineration, Anniston

Mr. Nate Hartman, Alabama Department of Environmental Management, Air Division, Montgomery

Suggested Citation:"Appendix B: Public Forum." National Research Council. 1994. Recommendations for the Disposal of Chemical Agents and Munitions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2348.
×

Mr. Griffin "Buddy" Holcomb, Jr., Talladega County Emergency Management Agency, Talladega

Mr. Jerry D. Mullinix, Director of Chemical Demilitarization, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntsville Division, Huntsville

Mr. Rudy Noll, Citizens for SPRING, Anniston

COL Leo E. Norton, Deputy Commander, Chemical Demilitarization and Special Projects, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntsville

Mr. Boyce L. Ross, Chief, Design Management and Integration Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntsville

State of Arkansas

Ms. Kim Konecny, Assistant Environmental Liaison, The Office of Governor Jim Guy Tucker, Little Rock

State of Colorado

Ms. Jacqueline Beradini, Office of the Environment, Colorado Department of Health, Denver

Dr. Richard A. Martinez, Pueblo County Commission, and Chairperson, PDA Chemical Demilitarization Commission, Pueblo

Mr. Ross Vincent, Chair, Rocky Mountain Chapter, Sierra Club, Pueblo

State of Indiana

Mr. Jim Gross, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Indianapolis

Dr. Gregory Steele, Indiana State Department of Health, Indianapolis

State of Kentucky

MG Robert L. DeZarn, Adjutant General of Kentucky and Head, Department of Military Affairs, Frankfort

Mr. Ken Hudson, Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP) Branch Manager, Division of Disaster and Emergency Services, Department of Military Affairs, Frankfort

Ms. Valerie Hudson, Principal Assistant, Department for Environmental Protection, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet, Frankfort

Suggested Citation:"Appendix B: Public Forum." National Research Council. 1994. Recommendations for the Disposal of Chemical Agents and Munitions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2348.
×

Mr. Thomas Pendleton, Jr., Kentucky Department of Military Affairs, Frankfort

Mr. Craig Williams, Kentucky Environmental Foundation, Berea

State of Maryland

Ms. Lisa Albin, on behalf of Mr. David McMillion, Maryland Emergency Management Agency, Pikesville

Mr. John Chalda, Maryland Department of Environment, Baltimore

Mr. Harold L. Dye, Jr., Maryland Department of Environment, Baltimore

Mr. Walter B. Harris, Chesapeake Bay Protection, Worton

Mr. Robert Hukill and Mrs. Jane Hukill, Coalition for Safe Disposal, Worton

Mr. Robert T. Jaske, P.E., Public Safety Consultant, Bethesda

Dr. Peter Montague, Environmental Research Foundation, Annapolis

Mr. John Nunn and Mrs. Nancy Nunn, Coalition for Safe Disposal, Worton

Mr. Jim Peavler, Chesapeake Development, Inc., Towson

State of Oregon

Lisa Brenner, Ph.D., on behalf of John Charles, Citizens for Quality Living, Sherwood

Mr. Brett McKnight, on behalf of Ms. Stephanie Hallock, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Portland

Dr. Thomas Stibolt, Kaiser Permanente, Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center, Clackamos

Ms. Katherina Woodward, Portland

State of Utah

Mr. Myron W. Lee, Tooele County, Department of Emergency Management, Tooele

Ms. Connie Nakahara, representing Mr. Dennis Downs, Utah Department of Environmental Quality and State and Territorial Waste Management Official, Salt Lake City

Mr. Jim Wangsgard, representing Mr. Dennis Downs, Utah Department of Environmental Quality and State and Territorial Waste Management Official, Salt Lake City

Suggested Citation:"Appendix B: Public Forum." National Research Council. 1994. Recommendations for the Disposal of Chemical Agents and Munitions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2348.
×
Additional Interest Groups and Individuals

Ms. Elizabeth Bartlett, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, Atlanta, Georgia

Dr. Dupont Durst, U.S. Army Chemical Research, Development and Engineering Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland

Mr. Alan Goldfarb, MITRE Corporation, McLean, Virginia

Mr. Matthew Hale, Office of Solid Waste, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C.

Dr. Paul Johnston, The Earth Resources Center, University of Exeter, United Kingdom

Mr. Gerwyn Jones, Madison, New Jersey

Mr. David Keefer, Evaluator, U.S. General Accounting Office, Washington, D.C.

Mr. David Koplow, Lawyers Alliance for World Security, Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, D.C.

Mr. Kier Lieber, Research Associate, The Henry L. Stimson Center, Washington, D.C.

Mr. Stephen A. McFadden, M.S., Independent Research Advocate, Pasco, Washington

Mr. Blaine McKusik, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) Task Force, War Gas Disposal Committee, Wilmington, Delaware

Mr. Kyle Olson, Chemical and Biological Arms Control Institute, Alexandria, Virginia

Mrs. June Ottinger, Chemical Weapons Working Group, Anniston, Alabama

Mr. John Parachini, Executive Director, Lawyers Alliance for World Security, Washington, D.C.

Mr. Bob Pikul, MITRE Corporation, McLean, Virginia

Lawrence Plumlee, M.D., Washington Center for Environmental Health (former EPA Medical Science Advisor), Cabin John, Maryland

Mr. David Rowan, U.S. General Accounting Office, Washington, D.C.

Mr. Steven Setzer, Engineering News Record, McGraw-Hill, Atlanta, Georgia

Ms. Amy Smithson, The Henry L. Stimson Center, Washington, D.C.

Ms. Maria Vorel, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Congressional Relations, Washington, D.C.

Suggested Citation:"Appendix B: Public Forum." National Research Council. 1994. Recommendations for the Disposal of Chemical Agents and Munitions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2348.
×

Invitees Who Submitted Written Statements and Comments

The Honorable Jack Jones, County Judge; the Honorable Jerry Taylor, Mayor, Pine Bluff, Arkansas; and the Honorable Raymond Ross, Mayor, White Hall, Arkansas

Mr. Thomas L. Askcraft, Coordinator, Office of Emergency Services, Jefferson County, Pine Bluff, Arkansas

Mr. Brainard Bivens, Chemical Weapons Working Group Delegate, Pine Bluff, Arkansas

The Honorable Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Congressman, State of Colorado

Mr. Dennis R. Downs, Director, Utah Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste, Department of Environmental Quality, Salt Lake City, Utah

Ms. Donna M. Heivilin, Director, Defense Management and NASA Issues, National Security and International Affairs Division, U.S. General Accounting Office, Washington, D.C.

Mr. Douglas Hindman, Vice Chair, Kentucky Chemical Demilitarization Citizens' Advisory Commission, Richmond, Kentucky

Mr. Robert P. Hukill, Coalition for Safe Disposal, Worton, Maryland

Mr. Robert T. Jaske, P.E., Bethesda, Maryland

Ms. Karyn J. Jones, Citizens for Environmental Quality, Hermiston, Oregon

Ms. Susan Lee Jones, Citizens for Environmental Quality, Hermiston, Oregon

Ms. Toni Lampkin, Springfield, Oklahoma

Mr. Stephen A. McFadden, Independent Research Advocate, Pasco, Washington

Mr. John E. Nunn, III, Worton, Maryland (Letter—July 21, 1993 to the Stockpile Committee, copy of letter—July 30, 1993 to General Walter L. Busbee)

Mr. Wilbur Slockish, Jr., Rural Alliance for Military Accountability (RAMA), The Dalles, Oregon

Dr. John L. Spomer, Citizens for Environmental Quality, Hermiston, Oregon

Thomas B. Stibolt, MD, and Lis P. Brenner, Ph.D., Sherwood, Oregon

Stephen B. Thacker, M.D., M.Sc., Acting Director, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia

Mr. Craig Williams, National Spokesperson, Chemical Weapons Working Group, Berea, Kentucky

Suggested Citation:"Appendix B: Public Forum." National Research Council. 1994. Recommendations for the Disposal of Chemical Agents and Munitions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2348.
×

June 10, 1993

Dear:

Our nation has a large stockpile of lethal unitary chemical agents and munitions. Congress has directed that the Department of Defense, which chose the Department of the Army as its principal agent, destroy this stockpile in a safe and effective manner. Though long embarked on a disposal program involving the incineration of all agent and munitions components, in October 1992 the Army was further directed to report to Congress by December 31, 1993, on potential alternatives to its baseline disassembly and incineration process. The Army report would include an evaluation of the report of the Committee on Alternative Chemical Demilitarization Technologies (Alternatives Committee) of the National Research Council (NRC) of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). It would also include recommendations made by the NAS, or more specifically, the Committee on Review and Evaluation of the Army Chemical Stockpile Disposal Program (Stockpile Committee). On June 30, 1993, these Committees will sponsor a Forum on disposal technologies for lethal chemical agents and munitions.

Before giving details on the Forum, I would like to provide some background on the overall NRC effort with regard to the Army Chemical Stockpile Disposal Program. The Stockpile Committee suggested to the Army in March 1991 that an evaluation of alternative technologies be undertaken. In November 1991, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Installations, Logistics and Environment) formally requested that the NRC undertake an independent study of alternative technologies. In early 1992, the NRC initiated a two-step effort.

First, the Alternatives Committee was established, with the task of preparing a broad review of potential alternative technologies. The Committee's report, Alternative Technologies for the Destruction of Chemical Agents and Munitions, is being released to the public today, June 10, 1993. A copy is enclosed for your perusal.

Second, based upon that report, and on the Stockpile Committee's knowledge of and considerable experience with disposal program requirements, it was asked to make recommendations to the Army on disposal processes that might be appropriate for systems capable of safe, economic, and timely disposal of lethal unitary chemical agents and munitions. This report is due from the Stockpile Committee in November 1993. As indicated above, information and recommendations from these reports would be included in the Army's December 1993 report to Congress.

Suggested Citation:"Appendix B: Public Forum." National Research Council. 1994. Recommendations for the Disposal of Chemical Agents and Munitions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2348.
×

FIGURE B-1 Letter of invitation to public forum.

As Chairman of the Stockpile Committee, I am writing to seek your participation in the June 30 Forum, which will be sponsored by both the Stockpile and the Alternatives Committees. The Forum will explore and discuss issues raised by the Alternatives Committee report, and is intended for those interested in agent and munitions elimination. A copy of the tentative agenda is enclosed. The Forum has four fundamental purposes:

  • to briefly review the findings of the Alternatives Committee report;

  • to review the technical issues being considered by the Stockpile Committee;

  • to ensure that the Stockpile Committee is informed of citizens' concerns; and

  • to review the evaluation methods and process that the Stockpile Committee will use to formulate its recommendations.

We hope to establish a sound, common language for discussing technical issues, for comparing alternatives, and for obtaining effective public comment on the planning of the disposal effort. Invitees to the Forum will include citizens and representatives from affected states (copy of Letter of Invitation to Governor enclosed), government agencies, environmental groups, and members from interested Congressional Staffs. An informal list of interested parties from your state is enclosed.

Your interest in these matters has come to our attention, which is why I am extending this invitation to you to attend the Forum. Should you be unable to do so, your written comments with regard to alternatives would be most welcome. Space at the Forum will be limited; therefore, please indicate your intentions to attend as soon as possible, but absolutely no later than June 24, 1993. Should you desire to submit written comments, please have them to us no later than June 25 in order that we may have them available at the Forum. A response form is attached for your convenience.

I apologize for this short notice. If you have any questions about the Forum, please feel free to contact Ms. Margo Francesco, National Research Council staff, by telephone at (202) 334-1902 or by facsimile at (202) 334-2620 for further details and information.

Sincerely yours,

Carl R. Peterson,

Chairman

Committee on Review and Evaluation of the Army Chemical Stockpile Disposal Program

Suggested Citation:"Appendix B: Public Forum." National Research Council. 1994. Recommendations for the Disposal of Chemical Agents and Munitions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2348.
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Page 138
Suggested Citation:"Appendix B: Public Forum." National Research Council. 1994. Recommendations for the Disposal of Chemical Agents and Munitions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2348.
×
Page 139
Suggested Citation:"Appendix B: Public Forum." National Research Council. 1994. Recommendations for the Disposal of Chemical Agents and Munitions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2348.
×
Page 140
Suggested Citation:"Appendix B: Public Forum." National Research Council. 1994. Recommendations for the Disposal of Chemical Agents and Munitions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2348.
×
Page 141
Suggested Citation:"Appendix B: Public Forum." National Research Council. 1994. Recommendations for the Disposal of Chemical Agents and Munitions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2348.
×
Page 142
Suggested Citation:"Appendix B: Public Forum." National Research Council. 1994. Recommendations for the Disposal of Chemical Agents and Munitions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2348.
×
Page 143
Suggested Citation:"Appendix B: Public Forum." National Research Council. 1994. Recommendations for the Disposal of Chemical Agents and Munitions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2348.
×
Page 144
Suggested Citation:"Appendix B: Public Forum." National Research Council. 1994. Recommendations for the Disposal of Chemical Agents and Munitions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2348.
×
Page 145
Suggested Citation:"Appendix B: Public Forum." National Research Council. 1994. Recommendations for the Disposal of Chemical Agents and Munitions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2348.
×
Page 146
Suggested Citation:"Appendix B: Public Forum." National Research Council. 1994. Recommendations for the Disposal of Chemical Agents and Munitions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2348.
×
Page 147
Next: Appendix C: Use of Activated Carbon Adsorption Systems for Exhaust Gas Cleaning »
Recommendations for the Disposal of Chemical Agents and Munitions Get This Book
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The U.S. Army's chemical stockpile is aging and gradually deteriorating. Its elimination has public, political, and environmental ramifications. The U.S. Department of Defense has designated the Department of the Army as the executive agent responsible for the safe, timely, and effective elimination of the chemical stockpile. This book provides recommendations on the direction the Army should take in pursuing and completing its Chemical Stockpile Disposal Program.

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