Army prepares to destroy V-X filled munitions

ANNISTON, Ala. (AP) -- Another step has been completed in the effort to destroy the aging chemical weapons stockpile at the Anniston Chemical Agent Disposal Facility.

Officials announced yesterday they have completed the V-X agent trial burns. The tests were completed Tuesday and involved the monitoring of emissions from the furnace and incinerator to make sure the system was not allowing deadly chemical agents to escape into the open environment.

The Army also said the system is within one-ten-thousanths of a percent of completely destroying the nerve agent. Preliminary results showed they exceeded that requirement.

A final report will be submitted to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management for review.

Earlier this year, the facility finished a near three-year process of destroying all 142,000 plus G-B nerve agent munitions stored at Anniston.

The Army is now making the transition to a full-scale destruction process for all the V-X filled weapons.