Anniston Weapons Disposal Could Resume this Week

Disposal of chemical weapons at the U.S. Army’s Anniston Chemical Agent Disposal Facility in Alabama could resume this week following changes to the machinery to allow destruction of 105 mm artillery shells, the Anniston Star reported Sunday (see GSN, May 26).

Work was originally scheduled to resume later in July, but changes have been made more quickly than anticipated.

“You always plan for a more extensive involvement, and if it’s not there, you do the maintenance that’s required,” said Army project site manager Tim Garrett.

Before disposal of the 105 mm shells can begin, workers need to destroy 2,200 8-inch artillery shells that were set aside in case the state required the facility to conduct further test burns on its metal parts furnace, the Star reported.

The Anniston incinerator has destroyed 15 percent of the original stockpile, eliminating 66,193 chemical weapons and 74,370 gallons of sarin, the Star reported (Brian Lyman, Anniston Star, June 26).

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