M4'S molten metal process selected by Japanese firm for chemical weapons cleanup.

OAK RIDGE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 25, 1996--M4 Environmental L.P. (M4) has reached an agreement with the Mitsubishi Corp. to use Catalytic Extraction Processing (CEP) as the principle technology for destroying chemical weapons left in China by the Japanese Imperial Army after World War II.

The Japanese government is studying alternative technologies for the demilitarization of their World War II era chemical weapons. To assist in this effort, Mitsubishi Corp. has reached an agreement with M4 to utilize a CEP-based system to destroy bulk agent and select weapons located at small weapons burial sites. Mitsubishi is the leading Japanese company being considered to spearhead the cleanup of Japanese chemical weapons left in China.

"Japan has just begun developing their chemical demilitarization program and is seeking new technologies for this work," said Robert Merriman, M4 president and chief executive officer. "Because they are not tied to a mandated technology, the Japanese government is asking Mitsubishi and other companies to provide high tech solutions that meet stringent environmental, cost and schedule criteria."

The worldwide market for processing chemical weapons, of which a significant portion must be destroyed in the next 10 years under treaty provisions, is estimated at more than $50 billion.

Separately, the U.S. Army's Chemical Demilitarization Alternative Technology Program just released a report by the Army Material Systems Analysis Activity (AMSAA) on the "Technical and Economic Analysis Comparing Alternative Chemical Demilitarization Technologies to the Baseline."

The purpose of AMSAA's study was to have an independent Army agency compare the three private sector technologies that had previously been selected as candidates for chemical agent destruction, the Army's two alternative technologies centered around neutralization, and the baseline incineration technology. AMSAA's comprehensive assessment criteria included technical performance, safety (worker and public), environmental protection, cost and schedule.

M4's CEP technology was shown to have the shortest schedule and the least cost. The report also states that M4's CEP process is the most mature alternative technology for the Newport Chemical Depot (NECD) in Indiana.

AMSAA's recommended course of action is for the Army to use neutralization with biodegradation at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland and CEP at NECD. According to the report, this option reduces overall risk while providing significant cost savings. It also provides for flexibility as two technologies are carried forward for further development and demonstration.

M4 is the limited partnership of Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:LMT) and Molten Metal Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MLTN). Established in 1994, M4 has the exclusive license from Molten Metal Technology to provide CEP technology to the U.S. Departments of Energy and Defense and the United States Enrichment Corp.

Additional information about M4 is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.m4lp.com.

CONTACT: M4 Environmental L.P.

Gail Rymer

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