PUEBLO

Mustard gas detected in storage structure

Low levels of mustard gas were detected Wednesday inside an Army storage structure built to house leaky chemical weapons in Pueblo.

No mustard gas escaped the storage structure, and there was no danger to depot workers or neighbors, the Army Chemical Materials Agency said in news release issued Wednesday.

About 2,600 tons of mustard gas are stored - and slated for destruction - at the Pueblo Chemical Depot, about 14 miles east of downtown Pueblo.

"Initial air monitoring conducted by the depot's chemical crew detected a trace amount of mustard vapor inside the storage structure," according to the release.

The storage structure contains mustard-filled chemical-agent rounds previously found to be leaking and placed in metal containers. The mustard vapors were detected during routine monitoring.

The structure's doors were not opened, the news release said.