PINE BLUFF, Ark. - The Pine Bluff Arsenal will begin chemical weapons disposal operations next Tuesday.

Disposal operations will begin with the processing of two M55 rockets filled with GB nerve agent, also known as sarin. The GB M55 rockets will be moved from the arsenal's storage area to the Pine Bluff Chemical Agent Disposal Facility on Monday.

"We have confirmed the readiness of our plant, processes and people to begin safe and environmentally sound disposal operations," said Randy Long, the site project manager. "Our plan is to start slowly, gradually increasing the rate of processing to ensure successful operations for the life cycle of the project."

Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark, said he believes the incineration process will go smoothly.

"I have been in numerous meetings with officials from both the Pine Bluff Arsenal and the Washington Group International, which is the organization that contracts to carry out the demilitarization process," Ross said. "Both groups have assured me that they have carefully and cautiously completed all the testing and safety procedures necessary to safely carry out the demilitarization process."

The Pine Bluff Arsenal is one of eight sites where chemical weapons are stored, and it holds 12 percent of the nation's stockpile. Weapons are also stored at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Richmond, Ky.

When incineration begins, 3,850 tons of weapons with nerve gas and blister agent are to be destroyed to conform to an international treaty.

The Pine Bluff Chemical Agent Disposal Facility is a 26-acre complex that cost nearly $600 million to build. The Arsenal will continue destroying weapons into 2008 and beyond, but the Pentagon has not developed budget estimates for the later years yet, Army spokesman Greg Mahall said.

The Army announced in January that it would also study alternatives for meeting a 2012 international treaty deadline to destroy the nation's chemical weapons stockpile. Among the options, the Army is exploring moving some of the weapons to storage sites with incinerators, including the Pine Bluff Arsenal.