Anniston Star
March 9, 2003

Utah incinerator delays re-start

By Jason Landers
Star Staff Writer
03-09-2003

The Army has delayed destroying chemical weapons at its incinerator in the Utah desert, officials said Friday.

After a seven-month standstill, the facility in Tooele, Utah, was set to resume burning nerve agent last week. Things did not go according to plan however.

Resumption of burn activities likely will not begin for at least a few more weeks, Army officials connected with the demilitarization program are saying.

March 18 is the earliest the facility could resume destroying the weapons, said Army spokesman Greg Mahall. He attributed the delay, in part, to the Army overlooking a requirement that gives the international Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons two weeks notice prior to the startup of any disposal activity.

"Earlier last week we were apprised that we needed to give two weeks notice to the OCPW work force," Mahall said.

Meanwhile the Army continues to run through its safety improvement checklist at the facility.

The Army halted disposal operations in Utah in July, after two maintenance workers were exposed to sarin nerve agent during changeover operations. They were changing to equipment used for destroying VX from equipment used to destroy sarin. Reportedly, neither worker was seriously injured.

Among the items on the Army's to-do list before the plant resumes, Mahall said, is a review of management practices at the plant and ensuring that appropriate access restrictions are in place at hazardous areas. Additionally, he said the Army is addressing worker-safety concerns and practicing mock emergency drills.

"Safety is paramount," Mahall said. "The Army will do everything it can to ensure we operate safely."

Incineration is not the only aspect of the Army's chemical demilitarization program that is encountering delay. The Army also has pushed back the startup of a neutralization facility in Aberdeen, Md.

Officials were hopeful the Maryland facility would begin neutralizing mustard agent during the first week of March. Those plans fell through because of equipment problems and weather-related issues, a press release said. It added that the Army is optimistic the operation will start destroying blister agent within the next few weeks.

According to the press release, "Neutralization will not begin until the team is positive it is completely prepared to destroy the stockpile."