VX Gas In Compliance Due To Newport Facility

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(NEWPORT) - The Newport Chemical Depot says its incineration of VX nerve gas has brought the U.S. into compliance with a United Nations treaty.

The chemical weapons convention sets a target of destroying 45% of U.S. chemical weapons by the end of the year. Newport has neutralized and disposed of half its stockpile, bringing the U.S. into compliance six months early.

The Newport Depot began work in 2005 to treat the VX with water and lye to turn it into caustic but essentially harmless wastewater, which is being trucked to Texas for incineration.

The U.S. received an extension of the original deadline. The treaty orders all countries to dispose of all chemical weapons by 2012.

The Pentagon has warned it believes it will need eleven years beyond that to complete the job.

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