Depot destroys half its weapons
By the East
Oregonian
HERMISTON -
The
Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility reached another milestone
recently when it destroyed just more than half of the total number of
chemical munitions originally stockpiled at the Umatilla Chemical
Depot. Those munitions contained about 24 percent of the original
chemical agent tonnage stored at Umatilla.
The disposal facility
surpassed the milestone Feb. 11, during the 155-mm diameter GB (sarin)
projectile campaign that began Jan. 25. Since starting operations in
September 2004, the plant has destroyed more than 111,600 chemical
munitions, including 91,442 M55 GB rockets, 2,445 GB bombs, 14,246
8-inch diameter GB projectiles and about 3,500 155-mm GB projectiles.
The
next day, the facility raised a new flag to signify it had received
federal recognition of its safety and health performance.
The
UMCDF recently earned "Star" status in the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration's Voluntary Protection Program. UMCDF is the
second chemical weapons demilitarization site in the nation to be
awarded VPP Star status, the highest safety honor the federal
government bestows. The Army's disposal facility in Anniston, Ala.,
also earned the honor in 2006.
The VPP promotes effective
worksite-based safety and health. Companies in the program are assigned
"Merit" or "Star" status after OSHA conducts a comprehensive on-site
review. Within the VPP program, management, labor and OSHA establish
cooperative relationships at workplaces that have implemented a
comprehensive safety and health management system.
Washington
Group International operates the disposal facility for the Army. WGI
became the 12th company in Oregon to earn the status and was inducted
into OSHA's VPP Corporate Pilot Program in 2006, the fifth organization
to be selected.
UMCDF is destroying chemical weapons that have
been stored at the depot since 1962. All the sarin-filled munitions
originally stored at the depot will be destroyed when the UMCDF
completes the 155-mm GB projectiles campaign, which is planned for this
summer. After that, the facility will prepare for a series of VX nerve
agent munitions disposal campaigns, beginning with M55 VX rockets.
After destruction of all VX munitions, the depot will dispose of
mustard agent stored in bulk containers. |
