Global Security Newswire

Workers as the U.S. Army's Umatilla Chemical Depot in Oregon on Tuesday detected a mustard agent leak in a storage unit, the Tri-City, Wash., Herald reported (see GSN, July 8).

It was the third leak reported at the facility in the last month. The summer heat tends to thaw the blister agent, causing more frequent leaks.

Officials said this leak, as with earlier incidents, did not pose a threat to public or the surrounding environment. Passive filter systems are installed on all storage igloos, which are equipped with powered system following discovery of a leak.

The Umatilla depot incinerating its mustard stockpile (see GSN, June 5; Tri-City Herald, July 22).