Anniston Star
September 30, 2002

Inspection team detects leaker at Army depot

By Matthew Korade
Star Senior Writer

An international inspection team detected the presence of nerve gas inside a chemical weapons storage igloo at Anniston Army Depot Saturday.

The team was almost finished with its inspection, and was about to enter one of the final igloos, when pre-entry monitors discovered the presence of the nerve gas.

The gas probably leaked from one or more rockets, a routine occurrence, said Cathy Coleman, the public affairs officer for the Anniston Army Depot chemical stockpile.

Ordinarily when agent is detected, officials set up filters to thin out the gas and prevent it from escaping before opening the doors to the igloo. Stockpile personnel then locate the leakin munitions by process of elimination, covering stacks of rockets with plastic.

Because the procedure can take several days, personnel decided to train the inspection team in the use of special protective gear, allowing them to enter the igloo and carry out the rest of their inventory.

The team, which is allows to inspect the facility at 24 hours notice by international chemical
weapons treaty, finished the process and left Anniston Saturday morning.

The stockpile commander, Lt. Col. Robert Jones, said the visit went well.

"The team was impressed with the entire Anniston Chemical Activity (and) Army depot team and their efforts," Roberts said. "And they expressed their pleasure with our efficiency, their visit to the state of Alabama and the hospitality they were shown."