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Cause of Umatilla CW Fire Still Not Known
Investigators have not yet determined the cause of fires that occurred during the destruction of sarin-filled M55 rockets at the Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility in Oregon, the Hermiston Herald reported yesterday (see GSN, May 19). “We are trying to narrow down the possible causes,” said Rick Kelly, a spokesman for Washington Group International, the site contractor who is leading the investigation. “The task force will be looking at the rockets, the design of the building and the design of the equipment.” Kelly said investigators are drafting a report on the incidents, which caused destruction at the facility to stop, and will send it to the Army soon. “Once it goes to them, it will be up to them to give us the go ahead and start,” Kelly said (Karen Hutchinson-Talaski, Hermiston Herald, May 24). Meanwhile, the U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency yesterday opened its own investigation into Umatilla fires as well as fires at the Pine Bluff Chemical Agent Disposal Facility in Arkansas, which is also destroying M55 rockets, according to an agency press release (see GSN, May 20). The purpose of the inquiry is to determine if there is a connection between the fires, according to agency director Michael Parker. “We’ve had these situations before and have learned from them. The current frequency might be indicative of a potential change in something in the stockpile,” Parker said in a statement. “At this point, we don’t know what it is or if the frequency will continue. But we still need to investigate and get to the bottom of any issue that could affect our ability to safely destroy the weapons or to maintain confidence within our communities.” No time frame is given for completion of the investigation (Chemical Weapons Agency release). The investigation of the Umatilla and Pine Bluff facilities has raised concerns in Alabama, home of the Anniston Chemical Agent Disposal Facility, the Birmingham News reported today (see GSN, April 28). Army spokesman Mike Abrams said similar incidents could occur at Anniston — which shares the same design as the Umatilla and Pine Bluff facilities — when it begins destruction of the M55 rockets next year (Katherine Bouma, Birmingham News, May 26).
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