Army delays destruction of VX nerve agent at Newport

NEWPORT, IND. -- The Army said it will delay destruction of a deadly nerve agent at the Newport Chemical Depot until early 2004 because the plant doesn't yet meet environmental standards or have a sprinkler system.

A federal lawsuit in Ohio, announced last month, also might add to the delay of a process ordered by international treaty and shadowed by terrorism.

The Army had planned to start destroying more than 1,200 tons of VX in October at the depot about 30 miles north of Terre Haute.

But the neutralization process doesn't yet meet the Army's environmental standard prohibiting more than 20 parts of VX per billion in the byproduct, known as hydrolysate.

VX is so deadly even a tiny amount of the thick, oily liquid can kill if it is inhaled or comes in contact with skin.

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