News

ARSENAL FINISHES OPERATIONS FOR 2006, BEGINS OUTAGE

By Rick Joslin/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Sunday, December 31, 2006 10:32 PM CST

The Pine Bluff Chemical Disposal Facility at the Pine Bluff Arsenal completed operations for the current year on Dec. 13 when a scheduled "mini-outage" for maintenance activities commenced.

The outage is expected to end as early as Tuesday.

Through Dec. 12, the facility, which began disposal operations 21 months ago, had safely eliminated 74,405 nerve agent GB-filled rockets, which is nearly 83 percent of that particular inventory. Over 786,000 pounds of the agent -- 10.2 percent of the total chemical agent weight in tons -- had been destroyed.

No replacement has been named for facility site project director Randy Long, who died in November.

The arsenal's original stockpile of chemical munitions was 12 percent of the nation's total. The military began storing chemical weapons at the arsenal in 1945.

The Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program -- serving Arkansas, Cleveland, Dallas, Grant, Jefferson, Lincoln, Lonoke, Prairie, Pulaski and Saline counties -- is designed to help persons ready themselves for the unlikely event of a chemical incident or accident at the arsenal.

Through CSEPP funding, an emergency notification network has been created. It consists of tone alert radios, weather radios, Emergency Alert System on cable television and local radio stations, and outdoor sirens.

The outdoor siren system features the following message tones:

  • WHOOP (actual chemical accident/incident at arsenal) -- Listen to the message and follow instructions.

  • BEEP (chemical accident exercise at arsenal) -- "Attention. This is a test exercise. Attention. This is only a test exercise."

  • STEADY (tornado) -- "Warning. This is a tornado warning. Residents should take immediate cover. This is a tornado warning."

  • HIGH-LOW (hazardous material spill or accident) -- A live public address will identify the hazard.

  • CHIME (all-clear notice) -- ’Äú"Attention. Attention. The emergency has ended. Normal activity may be resumed."

  • CHIME (test of the warning system) -- "This is a test. This is a test of the emergency warning system. This is a test and only a test."

    For additional information, visit the Outreach Office for Chemical Disposal at 7197 Sheridan Road, Suite 110, or telephone the office at (870) 247-2025 or 534-4901.
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