Mustard Vapor Leak Found at Umatilla Depot

Workers at the Umatilla Chemical Depot in Oregon on Tuesday discovered mustard vapor leaking inside a structure used to store bulk containers of the chemical agent, the U.S. Army said in a press release (see GSN, Sept. 11).

The storage igloo uses a passive filter system to keep chemical vapors from reaching the outside environment.  A powered filter system is now expected to be installed, the press release states.  Workers will also locate, inspect and decontaminate the leaking container.

The leak posed no threat to the public or the environment, the Army said (U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency press release, Oct. 10).

Meanwhile, personnel at the Deseret Chemical Depot in Utah have relocated a leaking mustard agent container so that they can replace its plugs and valves, the Tooele Transcript Bulletin reported Tuesday.  Two teaspoons of liquid mustard agent leaked from the container in September.

Workers also replaced a valve on another leaking container (Tooele Transcript Bulletin, Oct. 10).

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