LOCAL
Thursday, August
19, 2004
Trace amount
of nerve agent found
HERMISTON — Umatilla Chemical
Depot employees detected a trace amount of VX nerve agent vapor Wednesday
afternoon inside a depot storage structure storing leaking munitions.
The crew was conducting routine daily monitoring operations with
standard mobile air-monitoring equipment, according to a news release by
the U.S. Army.
The igloo already has a passive filter system, preventing the chemical
vapor from escaping to the outside atmosphere. However, an additional filter
system was installed, and the crews are scheduled to take additional readings
today, the release said.
Most of the weapons in the igloo have been stored there since 1984
and have previously leaked. They are over-packed in large containers for
additional protection.