Tooele Transcript Bulletin
October 7, 2003
Burner back on line after plant outage
Workers at the Tooele Chemical Agent Disposal Facility (TOCDF) restarted
chemical
The restart also marked the beginning of two new munition processing campaigns;
VX nerve agent-filled 155 millimeter projectiles and VX bulk containers.
These two munition types will be processed at the same time.
“I’m pleased to see us restart chemical operations,” said Steve Frankiewicz,
general manager of the TOCDF systems contractor, EG&G Defense Materials,
Inc. “We had a successful outage, one that was carefully planned and orchestrated,
and above all, completed safely. We expect the work we performed will prepare
us well to complete the remainder of the VX agent destruction campaign,”
Frankiewicz added.
The maintenance outage began on Sept. 2. Key plant activities conducted during
the outage included the following:
• Replacement of the liner in a 2300 gallon tank that holds spent
decontamination solution, used to decontaminate equipment inside the plant
• Inspection of the Deactivation Furnace System (DFS) rotary kiln (the furnace
chamber where explosive munition components are destroyed) and replacement
of the chain which moves munitions on the DFS Heated Discharge Conveyer
• Exhaust duct cleaning in the pollution abatement system of the Metal Parts
Furnace (MPF), mostly used to decontaminate metal munition components such
as projectile casings and drained bulk containers
• Inspections and necessary maintenance on utility and support systems
Other VX munitions waiting destruction are spray tanks and land mines. Remaining
VX M55 rockets and M56 warheads also are scheduled for destruction pending
regulators’ approval. The VX campaign is expected to be completed in about
a year. After that, plant systems and equipment will be reconfigured in preparation
for the final TOCDF campaign, targeting munitions containing Mustard blister
agents.
To date, 44.6 percent of the chemical agent and 82.2 percent of the munitions
at Deseret Chemical Depot have been destroyed.