Workers Demolish Pine Bluff Chemical Weapons Factories

Work crews at Pine Bluff Arsenal in Arkansas this week began destroying buildings once used to produce chemical weapons precursors (see GSN, Oct. 21).

The buildings, which produced materials for VX nerve gas, are separate from chemical weapons storage containers at the site. Workers will destroy buildings at the facility and neutralize chemical weapons stored there for the next three or four years. In 2005, arsenal officials will renovate one building to use as a destruction center for tens of thousands of chemical weapons containers (David Hammer, Associated Press, Oct. 31).

The Arkansas Supreme Court, meanwhile, yesterday upheld the state’s decision to allow the operation of an incinerator at Pine Bluff Arsenal.

“We’re certainly elated about it,” said Chris West, a spokesman for Washington Demilitarization, which is in charge of the disposal. “It means that unless something unforeseen happens, we’re going to be able to carry out our schedule and plans,” he added (Wickline/Gelder, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/NWANews.com, Oct. 31).

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