'Pop' forces closure at chemical depot      

STOCKTON, Tooele County — Operations have been stopped temporarily at the Oquirrh Mountain Facility of Deseret Chemical Depot because workers heard a loud, unusual "pop" while removing an ignition cartridge from a mustard-filled mortar.
     
One of the tasks at the facility is to remove the explosive components from the propellant parts of mortars to make them safe for storage until they are incinerated, said Chuck Sprague of Deseret Chemical Depot.
     
After the popping sound Thursday afternoon, operations were stopped. A safety team will determine what happened before the facility is reopened, Sprague said.
     
"They're in the process of putting together a report for the commander," Sprague said.
     
No one was injured and no chemicals were released, he said.