Fort Detrick officials announced Jan. 18 the excavation work stopped for the Environmental Restoration Project at its Area B-11 site on Jan. 7 due to discovery of two sealed vials containing bacteria and other laboratory waste.
Preliminary tests conducted by the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases revealed the presence of live bacteria, but exact identification is still in progress. Col. James R. Greenwood, commander, U.S. Army Garrison, said, "I can tell everyone with confidence, based on the preliminary test results, the material in the vials is not anthrax. I can also assure you that the special containment structure and procedures we have in place safely protect the workers and the surrounding community." A Corps of Engineers' contract laboratory in Maryland began definitive identification of the bacteria, with results expected next week. Those results will be announced as soon as they are available.
In November 2001, Fort Detrick began removal of the waste pit materials in Area B to address groundwater problems associated with chemical waste disposal during the 1960s and 1970s. The excavation and soil processing activities are part of the remediation action at Area B-11, a presently unused portion of Fort Detrick located off Shookstown Road.
Soil from the waste pit excavation site is processed in a negative pressure containment dome. On Jan. 7, hazardous waste workers, wearing personal protective clothing, discovered the vials that contained dried material. Officials on site immediately commenced a "safety shutdown" of Area B-11 site activities to review safety procedures.
Greenwood directed the project to remain shut down until testing of the vials is complete and additional safety measures are in place. Air sampling continues, but excavation was stopped, and soil from the area around the vials remains in the containment facility.
"We will remain in a shutdown mode until we have all the necessary answers relating to health and safety questions," Greenwood said.
Officials met shortly after the material was discovered to review and modify the safety and health measures already in place. Personnel from the Fort Detrick U.S. Army Garrison, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, Maryland Department of the Environment, U.S. Army Environmental Center, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the project's contractor, IT Corporation, participated in the meeting.
Area B-11's safety measures include the following: segregating the medical waste from the soil and disposing of it in accordance with state and federal regulations; increasing the frequency of maintenance of the filter system and replacement of 1-micron filters; increasing the sampling at the air intake units and 1-micron filters; analyzing for other bacteriological growth; applying a disinfectant to the excavated soil; and validating the effectiveness of bacteriological monitoring and periodically spiking the soil to be shredded with a harmless surrogate bacteria (B. globijii) to test the air, air filter, and personal protective equipment worn by workers.
Fort Detrick officials said that after extensive review of historical records, there was a low probably of finding biological agents, but preventive measures were already in place to protect workers and the public in the event biological material was encountered.
"Even though we suffered a setback on our restoration project, we are thankful workers health and public safety have been protected through our existing procedures," Greenwood said.
If you would like more information about the project please visit the Fort Detrick web site at www.armymedicine.army.mil/detrick/rab/, or call the Fort Detrick Public Affairs Office at 301-619-2018.
http://web.archive.org/web/20020613082252/http://www.detrick.army.mil/detrick/areab/standard.cfm
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