Incineration update: 1,245 gallons of sarin destroyed March 18-23

By Brian Lyman
Star Staff Writer
03-27-2005

The test burn at the Anniston Chemical Disposal Facility this week was successful, and the destruction of weapons continued. Crews at the plant destroyed 1,026 eight-inch artillery projectiles and 1,245 gallons (11,330 pounds) of sarin between Friday, March 18, and Wednesday, March 23. Crews to date have destroyed 55,746 munitions and 66,482 gallons (604,986 pounds) of nerve agent. The facility has destroyed 42,762 sarin-filled rockets and warheads, and 12,984 eight-inch projectiles. Chemical processing continued at sites in Tooele, Utah, and Umatilla Ore. A disposal facility at Pine Bluff, Ark., will begin operations Tuesday, with the scheduled destruction of two sarin-filled rockets. Crews at Tooele, Utah destroyed 714 VX mines and about 10,000 pounds of nerve agent through last Sunday. The facility destroyed 997,729 weapons and 14,622,000 pounds of agent in total through March 20. The Umatilla Chemical Disposal Facility destroyed 644 sarin-filled rockets and 12,109 pounds of nerve agent from March 17 to March 20. The facility had disposed of 8,095 M55 rockets and 86,000 pounds of nerve agent through last Sunday.

About Brian Lyman

Brian Lyman covers infrastructure and the cities of Heflin and Lincoln for the Anniston Star. He lives in Anniston.