Thursday, December 18, 2003

Another leaker found at Umatilla Chemical Depot

By JEANNINE KORANDA of the East Oregonian
jkoranda@eastoregonian.com


HERMISTON — Crews working to isolate from which 750-pound bomb vapors had originated Dec. 10 on the Umatilla Chemical Depot detected vapors again while moving the overpacked bomb Wednesday.

The vapors, from bombs containing GB sarin gas, were detected late Wednesday afternoon outside a storage structure, said depot spokeswoman Mary Binder.

“The entire incident was confined to the immediate area and igloo area,” she said.

Operations were halted immediately and subsequent monitoring indicated no vapors, a press release on the incident said.

The incident occurred during a meeting of the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Plan governing board.

The vapor reading was slightly above one TWA, she said. One TWA, or time weighted average, is the level a person can be exposed to a chemical for 40 hours a week for a working career without it being harmful.

Late Wednesday afternoon, the leaking bomb was overpacked and moved into a structure containing other overpacked GB sarin items, she said. That igloo and similar structures containing overpacked VX and mustard gas items are monitored daily.

Wednesday’s incident also is related to an Oct. 1 announcement of a leaking bomb, Binder said. The vapors detected Wednesday and Dec. 10 were identified while crews were working on isolating which item or items caused the vapor readings.

The igloo where the vapors were detected will be monitored over the next few days to ensure the readings continue to drop.

So-called “leakers,” chemical weapons detected to be leaking vapor, are not unusual at the Umatilla Chemical Depot. Many of the weapons are 60 years old and the munitions are deteriorating. But all the weapons are housed in protective bunkers that are monitored regularly, and any leaks have been contained in the igloos.

The Umatilla Chemical Depot stores about 12 percent of the nation’s chemical weapons supply. The United States has agreed through an international treaty to destroy its chemical weapons. An incineration complex has been completed at the Depot and is undergoing testing. Incineration is expected to begin next year.