POSTED:
4:38 pm CDT June 14, 2004
UPDATED: 8:04 pm CDT June 14, 2004
ANNISTON, Ala. -- The Army said during the past
several weeks workers at the Anniston Army Depot have found more leaking
M55 rockets containing GB nerve agent.
According to officials, 20 rockets were recently removed from igloos where
they are stored.
The Army said the leaking munitions were contained and posed no danger to
the public or depot employees.
To date, the Army has found 778 rockets from a specific production lot that
are prone to vapor leaks. The affected munitions were identified, then placed
in individual containers and moved to separate igloos.
The Army said the rockets are eventually destroyed at the depot's chemical
waste incinerator.Other types of chemical munitions are also closely monitored,
but are less prone to leakage.
This is the most recent problem for the depot, which on May 6, was cited
by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management for improper handling,
storage and record keeping of hazardous waste.The order, which cited violations
of the state's 1978 Hazardous Wastes Management and Minimization Act, assessed
a $19,950 civil penalty.
The depot removed the hazardous materials and provided necessary records
to the department following a regular inspection.ADEM staff had found several
containers of hazardous waste being stored on-site for more than 90 days
without a proper permit, including construction and demolition waste containers
from older depot building renovations.
The department also cited the depot for not having manifests from hazardous
waste transport available for review and for storing a drum of used oil without
proper labeling.ADEM said visual observations found no adverse environmental
effect from the violations.
Many Anniston residents have criticized the U.S. Army’s decision to begin
incinerating chemical weapons at the depot in Aug. 2003. Critics say there
is insufficient protection for nearby residents in case of leaks from the
rockets. Previous Stories:
- August 15, 2003: Maintenance Work Slows
Weapons Burning At Anniston Incinerator
- August 13, 2003: Weapons Incinerator
Resumes Burning After Glitches Fixed
- August 12, 2003: Anniston Homeowners
Say Incinerator Devalues Land
- August 10, 2003: Army Incinerates Two
Cold War-Era Rockets
- August 9, 2003: Rocket Incinerated
Successfully In Anniston
- August 8, 2003: Judge Denies Request
To Block Incineration
- August 6, 2003: Incinerator Startup
Prompts Rush On Safety Gear
- August 5, 2003: Army Agrees To Temporarily
Delay Incinerator Startup
- August 1, 2003: Opening Of Army Incinerator
Coincides With School
- July 22, 2003: Residents Wait, Worry
As Army Prepares To Burn Weapons
- June 22, 2003: Residents Protest Army
Incinerator
- May 8, 2003: Ready For The Worst?
Chemical Weapons Leak
- June 20, 2002: Study Shows Anniston
Residents Divided Over Weapons Burning
- June 10, 2002: Weapons Incinerator
To Burn PCBs
