The operations of the Tooele Chemical Agent Disposal Facility (TOCDF) generates interest not only in Utah but throughout the world. The Deseret News published on Sunday, Dec. 7, part of a series of articles written by Tony Freemantle of the Houston Chronicle that were published in November in Texas. Freemantle toured TOCDF in Utah this past summer.
Because the Deseret News only published a small portion of what Freemantle had written, we believe the public may have received a distorted view of the role and mission of chemical weapons demilitarization. In addition, we believe a response is helpful to counter misleading statements made by the reporter.Before permission was granted to begin operations to dispose nerve agent at TOCDF in August 1996, federal and state agencies with oversight responsibilities conducted risk assessment studies that included human health and ecological factors. These quantitative studies explored the probability of potential adverse health effects from possible exposure to emissions from TOCDF. The ultimate question raised was, is TOCDF safe? The answer was, and is, yes.
However, Freemantle wrote: "In the worst of cases, a major accident there could kill scores of people in the valley." What the reporter failed to mention is that the risk of dying because of major accident at TOCDF is one in 1 billion near the plant and one in 1 trillion more than 21 miles away from the site.
On a related issue, Freemantle wrote: "At best, emissions from the plant would add still more pollutants to a place some regard as poisoned enough." What the reporter failed to include is that the Utah Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste estimated the potential TOCDF emissions using data emissions from the Johnston Island Disposal Facility in the Pacific Ocean, which began actual operations in 1990. Based on that information, the risk assessment study determined TOCDF operations could proceed safely.
Since disposal activities began in August 1996, trial burns and air modeling studies have been conducted to determine actual emissions at TOCDF. The good news is that preliminary results show extremely efficient emissions at TOCDF when compared with actual Johnston Island data. The Screening Health Risk Assessment is an ongoing process, but final results of these particular studies will be completed later in 1998.
In a report to the Utah Citizens' Advisory Commission on Chemical Weapons Demilitarization (CAC), the Utah Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste concluded no adverse health effects to the public based on preliminary results of the trial burns. Such monitoring continues constantly, ensuring public safety.
Last September, the Utah CAC also received a report from an independent firm (IHI Consulting) that stated current operations can be considered "safe" and do not pose a threat to either plant employees or the surrounding public. Other recent reports from the National Research Council and the Centers for Disease Control also reaffirm safe operations.
During the past 16 months, TOCDF has disposed over 2 million pounds of nerve agent. Our plan is to be finished by the year 2005. We continue to pledge to the public our best and safe energies to eliminate chemical weapons stored in Utah.