Alarm halts operations at weapons incinerator

By Rob Jordan
Star Staff Writer
04-17-2004

A chemical agent monitor sounded late Friday morning while workers at Anniston’s chemical weapons incinerator were doing routine maintenance on one of the plant ventilation system’s carbon filters. The levels of chemical agent detected were low and did not pose a threat to the workers or the public, according Mike Abrams, the incinerator’s spokesman. “There is no reason to believe agent escaped engineering controls,” Abrams said. Chemical weapons disposal was halted for several hours after the alarm, but the incinerator resumed operation around 4 p.m., Abrams said. There were four employees inside the filter’s housing unit when the monitor sounded. Although none of the employees had any medical complaints, they did go to the medical clinic for evaluation as a matter of safety procedure, according to the incinerator’s new release. None tested positive for exposure to agent.

About Rob Jordan

Rob Jordan covers criminal justice issues for The Star.