Impact of Revised Airborne Exposure Limits on Non-Stockpile Chemical Materiel Program Activities

The U.S. Army's Non-Stockpile Chemical Materiel program is responsible for dismantling former chemical agent production facilities and destroying recovered chemical materiel. In response to congressional requirements, the Center for Disease Control (CDC), in 2003, recommended new airborne exposure limits (AELs) to protect workforce and public health during operations to destroy this materiel. To assist in meeting these recommended limits, the U.S. Army asked the NRC for a review of its implementation plans for destruction of production facilities at the Newport Chemical Depot and the operation of two types of mobile destruction systems. This report presents the results of that review. It provides recommendations on analytical methods, on airborne containment monitoring, on operational procedures, on the applicability of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and on involvement of workers and the public in implementation of the new AELs.

Table of Contents


Front Matter
Executive Summary
1 Introduction
2 A Non-Stockpile Facility and Two Mobile Treatment Systems
3 Old and New Airborne Exposure Limits
4 Air Monitoring Systems
5 Process Implications of the New AELs
6 Regulatory Approval and Permitting, and Public Involvement
References
Appendix A Biographical Sketches of Committee Members
Appendix B Non-Stockpile Inventories
Appendix C Committee Meetings and Other Activities
Appendix D Approved Personal Protective Equipment