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U.S. Army Searches for Old CW Dumps
The U.S. Army hopes to conclude by the end of March a search of old records to find any information on the location chemical weapons dumped in the oceans before the 1970s, the Newport News, Va., Daily Press reported Saturday (see GSN, Nov. 2). The Army is trying to locate the sites and to determine whether they pose any danger to the environment or fishing crews. “What we're conducting right now is probably the most comprehensive search on records ... that has ever been done,” said Army Assistant Secretary Addison Davis. “Our goal is to compile the best, most comprehensive, up-to-date information possible.” The document review is focusing on the time period from World War I until the 1970s. Military officials are trying to determine how many and what type of weapons were dumped in order to make a risk assessment. Dumpsites, created after World War II when the Army dropped its weapons overboard, are located off the coasts of 11 states and 16 foreign countries. The locations of half of the domestic dumpsites are not known because of poor record keeping. More dumpsites are likely to be discovered now that the Army is reviewing World War I-era dumping practices. Ship manifests, historical nautical charts and chemical weapons shipment forms are being reviewed to determine locations of the sites. Accounts of individuals who reported negative health effects in connection with dumping are also being reviewed. Once the sites are identified, the Army faces the difficult task of dealing with the weapons. Most are in deep water and some may be leaking. Others are too unstable for the Army to extract from the ocean floor, according to the Daily Press. Scientists have warned that the weapons must be dealt with to prevent leaking. “We believe it is highly unlikely any of this stuff is in danger of washing up on shore. But we're putting a full-court press on this issue,” Davis said (John Bull, Daily Press, Dec. 10).
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