Army Chemical Weapons Burn Pace Slower Than Projected

The U.S. Army overestimated the pace at which it can operate its Anniston chemical weapons incinerator in Alabama, the Birmingham News reported today (see GSN, Oct. 17).

Army officials originally said they would be able to destroy as many as 40 M-55 rockets every hour, but project manager Tim Garrett yesterday projected the pace to be between 34 and 36 rockets per hour.

Officials are set to begin trial burns Sunday to show state and federal regulators that the facility can safely operate for six-hour stretches. Since Aug. 9, the Army has gradually increased the plant’s chemical destruction speed and has operated for about 510 hours, Garrett said (Katherine Bouma, Birmingham News, Oct. 30).

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