Posted on: Tuesday, August 5, 2003

Army agrees to pay fine, clean up atoll

By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Science Writer

The nerve gas destruction plant is closed at Johnston Atoll, 800 miles southwest of Honolulu, but the Army is still settling its debts for violations of Environmental Protection Agency rules there.

The EPA announced that the Army, without admitting guilt, has agreed to pay a $91,125 fine and spend $182,625 to restore native plants on part of the Johnston Atoll National Wildlife Refuge.

The penalties stem from alleged violations in December 2000, when officials at the Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System plant found VX nerve agent — a toxic chemical weapon — in a bin of incinerator ash.

The EPA cited the Army for a series of violations associated with the finding. Among them, workers did not wear proper protective gear, hazardous waste was stored in an improper area, the plant's emergency procedures were not followed, and the Army did not notify the EPA in a timely manner of a nerve agent release.

The fine and restoration work will resolve the complaints. The EPA said the replanting will help restore parts of the atoll's dryland vegetation, much of which was damaged by military activities. The growth will restore habitat for seabirds and other wildlife.

The chemical agent destruction plant at Johnston operated for 10 years and was used to destroy a range of chemical weapons stored there. They included weapons and containers with the blister agent mustard and nerve agents VX and GB, which is better known as sarin.

The plant destroyed 4 million pounds of chemical weapons before it was closed in 2001. The dismantling and cleanup of the facility continues.

Reach Jan TenBruggencate at (808) 245-7825 or jant@honoluluadvertiser.com.