Sarin-filled rocket destruction nears completion

By Rob Jordan
Star Staff Writer
10-23-2004

Army officials say it is likely that by the end of the weekend Anniston’s chemical weapons incinerator will finish destroying all sarin-filled M55 rockets stockpiled here. Friday afternoon, 23 leaking rockets remained to be burned, according to Army spokesman Mike Abrams. These are rockets that had been found leaking and had been packaged to prevent additional leakage. Because unpacking each leaking rocket is a difficult and unpredictable process, it’s impossible to pinpoint an exact completion point, Abrams said. “It’s kind of like asking a woman when she’s going to give birth,” Abrams said. Workers have been able to process up to 40 leaking rockets a day, but the daily average has fluctuated greatly, depending on the condition of the bolted steel casings that house each rocket. As of Friday, the incinerator had destroyed 42,715 rockets and more than 47,033 gallons, or 427,534 pounds, of sarin, according to the Army. After the final load of rockets has been burned, incinerator workers will shift operations to handle agent-filled projectiles.

About Rob Jordan

Rob Jordan covers criminal justice issues for The Star.