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Faulty Chemical Agent Monitors Endangered Workers at Blue Grass Army Depot, Worker Says
Workers at the U.S. Army’s Blue Grass Army Depot in Kentucky were put at risk by equipment that was not correctly configured to monitor possible leaks of VX nerve agent, an employee charged this week (see GSN, Aug. 25). Air-monitoring unit operator Donald Van Winkle made his allegations Wednesday in a signed affidavit, AP reported. Van Winkle said he informed depot officials of the problem in February, but that they failed to take quick action. He said his public complaints about the situation led the depot to deny him overtime pay and revoke some of his security clearance. Depot commander Lt. Col. George Shuplinkov said the facility made an optional switch in monitoring procedures in March or April. That does not mean there were problems with the replaced method, he told AP. “The previous method that we utilized is still a valid method,” he said. A Defense Department spokesman said the Pentagon would look into Van Winkle’s allegations. The department’s inspector general’s office is also considering Van Winkle’s request that it review the Blue Grass monitoring system and records, a spokesman said (Jonathan Katz, Associated Press/Messenger-Inquirer, Aug. 26). Meanwhile, traces of sarin vapor were detected Wednesday during regular hazardous waste work in a processing facility at the Deseret Chemical Depot in Utah, the Army Chemical Materials Agency said. Three workers underwent observation and testing, but showed no signs of exposure. There was no danger to other workers or the community, the Army said. The source of the vapor was not immediately known (U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency press release, Aug. 24).
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