Report by Army Says More Water Would Reduce PB Arsenal Fires
Thursday February 23, 2006 4:03pm

   
    

Whitehall, AR (AP) - A report by the Army says the Pine Bluff Arsenal can cut down on the chances of unintended fires by using more water in the process of incinerating chemical weapons.
    
The report says the arsenal has begun the new procedure.
    

Fires have broken out seven times during the disposal of M-55 rockets since the disposal process began last March. The arsenal is destroying its stockpile of nerve gas and mustard gas to comply with an international treaty that requires the materials be eliminated by 2012.
    
Investigators putting together the report looked 21 M-55 rocket fires at five disposal plants between March 1994 and December 2005.
    
The report says the fires were most likely caused by the movement of nitroglycerin within the rocket motor assembly.
    
The report also recommended upgrading spray nozzles and upgrading and relocating fire detectors.