Chemical Weapons Destruction Completed at Two Sites
The U.S. Army's Chemical Materials Agency announced it had completed the disposal of the Umatilla stockpile on Oct. 25 and the Anniston stockpile on Sept. 22.
The U.S. Army's Chemical Materials Agency reached a milestone on Oct. 25 when it completed the disposal of chemical weapons stored at the Umatilla Chemical Depot in Umatilla, Oregon. About a month earlier, on Sept. 22, CMA said it had completed the eight-year disposal operation at the Anniston Army Depot in Anniston, Ala.
The agency, based at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., both stores and destroys the nation's aging chemical weapons. These two missions took years and were completed safely, according to the agency. "This is a great day for the U.S. Army, the people of Oregon, and our nation," said CMA Director Conrad Whyne. "Thanks to the steadfast dedication of the Umatilla team -- the United States Army, its civilian workers, and contractors –- the Umatilla community, the state of Oregon, and our nation are all safer today. I could not be more proud of our workforce."
The Anniston Chemical Agent Disposal Facility employed incineration and explosive destruction technologies. According to CMA, the original inventory of chemical weapons stored there included 661,529 nerve agent and mustard agent munitions and 2,254 tons of chemical agent. Destruction operations began Aug. 9, 2003. Closure operations will be completed in 18 to 24 months, according to the agency.
CMA is continuing destruction work on a chemical weapons stockpile in Tooele, Utah, and is storing chemical weapons stockpiles in Richmond, Ky. and Pueblo, Colo.