Staffing Shortages May Slow Incineration of Chemical Weapons

Friday April 08, 2005 5:41pm

White Hall, AR - Project managers at the Pine Bluff Arsenal say staffing shortages could delay completion of destruction of chemical weapons.The arsenal began incineration of weapons last week.

Administrators say the arsenal is able to run only one shift because they were not able to keep on enough qualified workers. Officials say they want to have two shifts running in the fall.

The incinerator is designed to run around the clock. The arsenal is to complete destruction of the weapons by 2010, but administrators say that may not be possible considering the staffing situation. The arsenal stores 12 percent of the country's chemical weapons stockpile. The arsenal has 3,850 tons of chemical agents on site.