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Tooele to Begin Final Chemical Agent Disposal Effort
The Tooele Chemical Agent Disposal Facility in Utah this month is expected to begin destroying the final chemical weapons stored at the Deseret Chemical Depot, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, June 8). Incineration could begin Aug. 17 of 6,208 tons of mustard agent contained in 124,627 munitions and storage containers. The program is expected to last six years. Deseret contained the largest U.S. stockpile of chemical weapons. The incinerator has already eliminated about half of the nation’s arsenal of sarin and VX nerve agents. That effort lasted 10 years, and was followed by a 14-month shutdown to clean and reconfigure the facility for destroying mustard agent. “Everything’s in order,” said Gary McCloskey, a general manager for disposal contractor EG&G Defense Materials Inc. “The physical work is done. We’re now in the paperwork phase.” The United States to date has eliminated 39 percent of its chemical weapons stockpile, AP reported. McCloskey said he worries about the dangers posed by deteriorating munitions more than the threat that terrorists might gain access to the weapons. Vapor leaks from stored weapons are becoming an increasing problem, he said (Paul Foy, Associated Press, Aug. 9).
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