ROCKET DISPOSAL SURPASSES 8,000 MARK AT ARSENAL

By Larry Ault/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Wednesday,  June 1, 2005  10:06 AM CDT

The total number of drained, GB-filled M55 rockets that have been destroyed by the Pine Bluff Chemical Agent Disposal Facility exceeded 8,000 as of Monday.

"We processed every day," Raini K. Wright, a spokeswoman for the facility, said Tuesday.

Wright said the facility has undergone "routine maintenance and nothing out of the ordinary."

During the week that began May 24 and ended on Monday, crews destroyed 1,746 nerve agent GB rockets. The total project number of rockets eliminated was 8,070 nerve agent GB rockets.

Workers also destroyed 17,855 pounds of nerve agent in a liquid incinerator during the week making 71,220 pounds total for the entire project.

The facility also reported that, compared to 308 GB rockets eliminated on Sunday, it eliminated fewer -- 27 -- on Monday.

Wright said crews conducted maintenance on the deactivation furnace, which is the furnace where the rockets are incinerated after they are cut into eight pieces before being destroyed.

Wright said nothing new has been reported regarding an "in-depth and comprehensive" investigation into fires occurring at chemical weapons incinerators at Pine Bluff and Umatilla, Ore.

In recent weeks, three fires have occurred at the Umatilla Chemical Disposal Facility and two fires at the Pine Bluff Arsenal. All five fires have occurred while processing drained, GB-filled M55 rockets.

The facility also reported that on Thursday, it achieved 6 million hours without any employees missing a day of work because of an Occupational Safety and Health Administration case. This achievement dates back to March 2, 2002.