Workers complete mustard-filled mortar project

Chemical workers last Tuesday completed a project that removed explosive
components and re-packaged more than 39,500 4.2-inch mustard-filled mortar
cartridges in preparation for destruction in the next campaign at the Tooele
Chemical Agent Disposal Facility (TOCDF).

This labor-intensive project, which began in 1996, was necessary to
facilitate destruction by automated robotic equipment at the TOCDF. The
munitions were re-packaged for easy access then returned to earthen-covered
storage igloos.

The mustard agent destruction campaign is scheduled to begin in late 2005.

This month marks the 25th anniversary of operations at the Oquirrh Mountain
Facility (OMF), formerly known as the Chemical Agent Munitions Disposal
System (CAMDS) and the mustard mortar project was the last major project
scheduled at the facility.
 
The OMF plant now supports the Deseret Chemical Depot mission by destroying
secondary hazardous waste accumulated from chemical operations at the OMF
plant, storage site and the TOCDF.