US gains momentum destroying chemical weapon stockpiles
THE US Army has destroyed more than 70-percent of its stockpiles of chemical weapons some dating as far back as to the World War I era as part of an elaborate, decades-long process slated to be largely completed by 2012, service officials said.
"As of 26 January, 2010, the US has destroyed a 22,322 tons of the original 31,500 tons," said Greg Mahall, chief of Public Affairs for the US Army Chemical Materials Agency (CMA).
The US arsenal which used to include 31,500 tons of chemical weapons such as Sarin, VX and Mustard agents is systematically being destroyed at an increased pace, Mahall said.
"It is a tremendous success story. Not only is the US doing all it can to meet its international commitments, but more importantly the Chemical Materials Agency is contributing to the national security of the United States in the process. These weapons in the wrong hands can do harm. They are safely and securely storing and destroying them while providing maximum protection to the public and environment," said Carmen Spencer, deputy assistant Secretary of the Army (Elimination of Chemical Weapons).
The Army's Chemical Stockpile Elimination mission, which destroyed more than 3,084 tons of chemical weapons at four facilities during 2009, has been working since the early 90's several years before the 1992 drafting of an international Chemical Weapons Convention arms control agreement calling for the destruction of chemical weapons stockpiles and a prohibition on their use and production.
The Annual Status Report on the Disposal of Chemical Weapons and Materiel for Fiscal Year 2009 states that $1,548 million was appropriated during the year for chemical agents and munitions destruction.
In addition to the weapons stored on Johnston Atoll in the Pacific, chemical weapons stockpiles were dispersed among eight locations within in the continental U.S. at Army facilities in Anniston, Ala., Pine Bluff, Ark., Tooele, Utah, Umatilla, Ore., Aberdeen, Md., Newport, Ind., Blue Grass, Ky., and Pueblo, Colo.
Destruction of the stockpiles at Blue Grass, Ky., and Pueblo, Colo., now falls under Defence Department management with Army assistance; the remaining sites are currently part of the Army's Chemical Stockpile elimination program.
Source: www.defensetalk.com
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