THURSDAY
AUGUST 5, 2004


Workers find leaks in mustard-gas shells at the Deseret depot

Workers at the Deseret Chemical Depot in Stockton discovered four leaking mustard gas-filled projectiles and two quarts of the gas on the concrete floor of the storage igloo during routine monitoring operations this week, officials said on Wednesday.
   
Crews in protective clothing entered the igloo on Tuesday and discovered the leaking 155mm projectiles.
   
On Wednesday, a fifth leaking projectile was discovered, with about one teaspoon of agent down its side.
   
Low readings of mustard vapor were detected within approximately 100 feet of the igloo door during the operations. However, no agent vapor was detected from roving mobile agent monitoring vehicles within the storage area or from the storage perimeter monitoring stations, said depot spokesman Chuck Sprague.
   
Workers decontaminated the floor and the projectiles were packed into airtight containers for continued storage until they can be destroyed at a later date.