Umatilla Chemical Depot Destroys Last Sarin Weapons

The Umatilla Chemical Depot in Oregon on Sunday finished disposal of its stockpile of weapons containing the nerve agent sarin, the U.S. Army reported (see GSN, July 5).

The Army began its disposal campaign at Umatilla in September 2004 and has destroyed more than 155,000 munitions and 1,000 tons of the chemical agent.  The incineration project junked 155 mm artillery projectiles, M55 rockets, 8-inch projectiles, bulk chemical containers, and 500- and 750-pound bombs.

After a five-month changeover period, the depot is scheduled to begin destroying VX nerve agent weapons.  The facility is subsequently set to burn its stock of mustard agent (U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency release, July 8).

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