A Serious Mercury Problem

Earlier this week, GAP filed a lawsuit in an Oregon county challenging a state agency’s decision to allow the incineration of secondary wastes at a “chemical demilitarization facility” located near Hermiston, which is close to the Columbia River. The lawsuit asks the Court to order the State to make a determination of the “best available technology” for the disposal of mustard agent (HD).

The mustard agent could pose a very, very serious risk when incinerated, because its mercury content is very, very high. Mercury is not destroyed during the incineration process, nor will the “carbon filters” used to catch the nasty runoff from the process catch it. But the agency seems to want to do it anyway.

A much better method to employ would be a neutralization program that uses boiling water and bacteria to get rid of the mustard agent. There wouldn’t be any pesky problems like leaking-mercury-into-the-environment then.

GAP filed the lawsuit on behalf of several groups, including the Sierra Club, the Oregon Wildlife Federation, and G.A.S.P., a local nonprofit watchdog which has been dedicated to monitoring the facility for years. Keep up the good work!