ABERDEEN, Md., March 29 /PRNewswire/ -- The discovery of significant levels of mercury contamination in some mustard agent storage containers and munitions stored at Deseret Chemical Depot (DCD) will result in upcoming modifications to the chemical weapons disposal process at the Tooele Chemical Agent Disposal Facility (TOCDF), according to the U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency (CMA).

The change is needed to prevent potentially harmful mercury emissions as the Army continues its mission of safely destroying the nation's aging chemical weapons stockpile. TOCDF plant modifications are under discussion for later this year.

The new proposal at TOCDF calls for a determination of mercury content in bulk containers of mustard agent now in storage at DCD prior to transportation to TOCDF for destruction. Containers without mercury contamination will be drained and processed using the same proven baseline incineration method currently employed at TOCDF. Mercury-laden containers will be set aside and processed differently to prevent release of heavy metals into the atmosphere under this new proposal.

"Our mission remains critical as world events unfold," said Michael Parker, director of the CMA. "We must continue to meet any complex technical challenges that we encounter using the most appropriate technology solutions.

"This proposed mustard agent strategy is an excellent example of how we work with our partners to safely resolve technical problems and apply lessons learned throughout the program."

To implement this new strategy for disposing of mustard agent, the Army is partnering with its systems contractor EG&G Defense Materials, Inc. and a team of contractors with expertise in chemical weapons destruction. The new strategy represents unprecedented cooperation between EG&G and other contractors in the chemical demilitarization industry. "It's a significant effort to solve a challenging problem," said Gary McCloskey, EG&G's vice president and technical director.

TOCDF modifications will include a new bulk container washout/neutralization system and mercury filtration system, plus minor changes to the metal parts furnace. Planned facility changes are designed to minimize plant hardware modifications, costs, and schedule delays. Chemical weapons destruction will continue simultaneous with plant modifications because TOCDF has two liquid incinerators, one of which will be modified to filter mercury while the other continues to operate.

"This strategy demonstrates the Army's firm commitment to protecting the public and the environment from heavy metals contamination during mustard agent processing," said Army Site Project Manager Dale Ormond.

Mercury-laden bulk containers of mustard agent will first be drained of agent and then washed out. The drained mustard agent will be processed in a liquid incinerator equipped with a mercury filtration system. The washout water will be neutralized and subjected to a mercury removal process. Finally, the washout water will be incinerated. The washout-only neutralization system is a smaller-scale version of processes being used at CMA's mustard agent disposal facility in Aberdeen, Md.

TOCDF has destroyed nearly half of the chemical weapons initially stored at Deseret Chemical Depot. Mustard agent represents a large portion of the other half to be destroyed.

The CMA is committed to safely storing and disposing of chemical weapons while protecting workers, the public, and the environment. As of March 2004 the agency had safely eliminated 40 percent of the original stockpile of chemical weapons or more than 1.3 million chemical munitions.