WBAL-TV
May 13, 2003

Aberdeen Reports Vapor In Neutralization Facility; Officials Detect Low Levels Of Mustard Agent Vapor

Greg Ng, Staff Writer

POSTED: 1:49 p.m. EDT May 13, 2003
UPDATED: 1:52 p.m. EDT May 13, 2003

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. -- Officials are investigating why a low level of mustard agent vapor was detected at the Aberdeen Chemical Agent Disposal Facility Monday.

Army and Bechtel Aberdeen teams are looking into why a low level of mustard agent vapor was detected Monday afternoon inside a process neutralization facility. The presence of a very low level of mustard agent vapor was detected by a monitor next to an empty mustard container that had been cleared for removal from a drain station, according to Aberdeen officials.

Nine workers in the immediate area evacuated the building and were not hurt.

Officials checked other areas of the enclosed work area but there was no agent vapor, according to Aberdeen officials. The signal came from a passive line located an inch or less from the end of the container, which detected very low levels of agent.

Workers sealed the container and put it in a drain station for further monitoring. The area was cleared and employees returned to work within hours of the alarm.

The facility began neutralization on April 23. Officials said they need more time than expected to decontaminate the containers in the drain station and workers are refining their techniques.