Nerve gas destruction suspended

Tue., Aug. 8, 2006

Associated Press The Spokesman-Review

HERMISTON, Ore. – Just short of its goal of destroying the last of 91,000 GB-filled M55 rockets, the Umatilla Chemical Depot suspended the incinerations.

The agency had expected the work to be completed Sunday.

But debris jammed a conveyor unit with 256 rockets left.

Before it could be cleaned, the conveyor had to be cooled from 1,100 degrees to room temperature, the depot said Monday.

The work, performed under treaty obligation, is expected to resume later this week.

After the depot finishes with the GB rockets, it will start work on projectiles, which are like artillery shells, containing the nerve agent, said spokesman Jim Hackett.

The depot is scheduled to finish the last of the work, mustard gas munitions, by 2010-2011, he said.

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