Arsenal OK'd for greater mustard gas destruction

Posted: May 20, 2009 04:41 PM

PINE BLUFF, Ark. (AP) - State environmental regulators have cleared the chemical weapons disposal facility at the Pine Bluff Arsenal to accelerate its incineration of its mustard gas stockpile.

The arsenal said Tuesday the Department of Environmental Quality has signed off on a plan to increase rate at which the deadly material is sent into the incinerator from 50% to 75% of the permitted maximum for each furnace.

The facility began destroying ton containers of mustard blister agent Dec. 7. That's the last, but largest, store of the chemical weapons that are to be destroyed.

Destruction began in March 2005 with GB (sarin) nerve agent rockets. Destruction of VX nerve agent rockets was completed in February 2008 and the last of the VX land mines were destroyed in June 2008.