International inspectors begin examination at depot

By Rob Jordan
Star Staff Writer
10-27-2004

International inspectors arrived at the Anniston Army Depot Tuesday to begin a routine examination of the chemical weapons stockpile there, according to the Army. The team, from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, is making its 10th inspection of the stockpile to verify that the Army is keeping accurate records of the remaining munitions. The OPCW is responsible for implementing the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention, an international treaty that bans chemical weapons and aims to eliminate them throughout the world. The United States ratified the treaty in 1997. The inspectors are supposed to give 48 hours notice of their visits. The last OPCW inspection of the Anniston stockpile was in May. The team is expected to be in Anniston several days. The Department of Defense began storing weapons filled with nerve and blister agent at the depot in 1961. As of Tuesday, the Anniston chemical weapons incinerator had destroyed 42,726 sarin-filled rockets and approximately 47,033 gallons or 427,534 pounds of sarin, according to the Army. A mechanical glitch has held up destruction of the remaining 12 rockets since Saturday. 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.