By Brian Lyman
Star Staff Writer
05-26-2005

The Army’s Chemical Materials Agency has started an investigation into fires at chemical weapons disposal sites over the last two months. The Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility in Umatilla, Ore., and the Pine Bluff Chemical Agent Disposal Facility in Pine Bluff, Ark., have experienced five fires during the processing of sarin-filled M55 rockets. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality stopped weapons processing at Umatilla on May 18 pending an investigation of the third fire at that facility since April 7. Processing has not been halted at Pine Bluff. No timeframe has been set for the investigation, said Greg Mahall, a spokesman for CMA. The investigation will use personnel from Washington and local officials. “We’ve got our stockpile support division,” he said. “We’ve got guys out there assisting people in getting some of the proposed samples pulled and off to those other agencies.” The fires did not harm any worker or damage equipment. The agency will look at the safety equipment currently in place and submit it to a “comprehensive investigation,” CMA director Michael Parker said in a prepared statement. “We’ve had these situations before and have learned from them,” the statement went on to say. “The current frequency might be indicative of a potential change in something in the stockpile. At this point, we don’t know what it is or if the frequency will continue.” Messages left at the Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility were not returned. Officials with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality were not available for comment.

About Brian Lyman

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