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Fire Stops Chemical Weapons Incineration in Oregon
Incineration of chemical weapons at the Umatilla Chemical Depot in Oregon was halted last week when a rocket caught fire while being destroyed, the Tri-City Herald reported (see GSN, March 23). Sarin nerve agent had already been removed from the 8-foot M55 rocket when the fire ignited at 5 p.m. Thursday. A fire-suppression system cut air to the room to extinguish the fire, said depot spokeswoman Mary Binder. Employees conducted repairs on Friday, the Herald reported. A fire at the facility in November did not stop chemical weapons disposal, according to the Herald (Jeannine Koranda, Tri-City Herald, April 9). The cause of the fire remained unknown following an investigation, the East Oregonian reported. Incineration was expected to resume yesterday (Andrew Binion, East Oregonian, April 11). Meanwhile, Umatilla officials are faced with the possibility that mustard agent stored at the facility might contain mercury, the East Oregonian reported last week. Mustard agent at the Deseret Chemical Depot in Utah has been found to contain mercury, and officials there are checking whether the chemical can be incinerated without exceeding mercury pollution limits. Umatilla has more than 2,600 ton containers of mustard agent, which are set for disposal beginning in 2008, the East Oregonian reported. Officials are discussing the matter and watching to see what happens in Utah, Binder said (Andrew Binion, East Oregonian, April 8).
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