Demolition begins at Utah’s chemical weapons depot

(Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune) Work is beginning to demolish structures at the Tooele Chemical Agent Disposal Facility, seen here in this 2009 photo. From 1945 to the 1970's munitions and chemicals were "stored" in open trenches. Contaminated metal was stored in barrells in a site on the property. The incinerator in the background was used for over a decade to dispose of the nation's nerve gas stockpile.

Buildings tumble Agents such as mustard gas and VX were once stored in igloos.

For 15 years, chemical weapons were destroyed at the former Deseret Chemical Depot. Thursday, work began to destroy something else: buildings.

The demolition is expected to take nine months and will bookend the former facilitys role in complying with the international Chemical Weapons Convention.

The property last year was transferred to the control of the nearby Tooele Army Depot and given the new designation as that depots South Area. Amy Blauser, a spokeswoman for South Area, said two modular buildings were scheduled for demolition Thursday.

One was a building that housed foreign inspectors who ensured U.S. compliance with the convention treaty. The other building was used to support those inspectors.

"Ultimately, well knock down everything associated with destroying the chemical weapons," Blauser said.

The last mustard gas-agent filled munition was destroyed at the depot in 2010 and the last bulk mustard gas was destroyed a year later. Chemical weapons destruction formally completed Jan. 21, 2012. But that doesnt mean South Area, or Utah, is free of chemical weapons.

An unknown number of munitions some which still hold the remnants of deadly chemical agents remain at South Area.

Thomas Ball, the staff engineer and Utah Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste, who oversees the Armys cleanup of the remaining waste, said the Army will probably spend several more years removing burnt or buried munitions, some of which contain chemical weapons that were not subject to the treaty.

Continued here:
Demolition begins at Utah’s chemical weapons depot