The Colorado State Health Department is ordering the Department of Defense to speed up the destruction of mustard gas at the Pueblo Chemical Weapons Destruction Depot. The Pentagon says that limited funding is the reason for slow destruction timelines.
Russia Opens a New CW Destruction Facility
On June 17, 2008 Russia opened its new Leonidovka chemical weapons destruction facility. The Director General of the OPCW, Rogelio Pfirter was on hand for the official opening of the facility, and the event was well-covered in the international media.
Russia steps up destruction of chemical weapons – Reuters
Russia will open a new facility on Tuesday to continue destroying its formidable arsenal of chemical weapons, the world’s biggest, as part of its drive to eliminate all such weapons by 2012 …
Russia destroys more chemical arms – RussiaToday
Russia has taken a key step towards destroying all its chemical weapons, with the opening of another site to neutralise arms. The country is already ahead …
OPCW to prevent chemical weapons from falling to terrorists – ITAR-TASS
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) will not cease to exist after the whole reported stock of chemical weapons in the world will have been destroyed …
Russia opens 4th chemical weapons destruction plant – Associated Press – International Herald Tribune
Russia opened a fourth plant Tuesday to destroy its chemical weapons stockpiles, which are the largest in the world. The destruction facility, near the site of one of Russia’s seven …
New chemical weapons destruction plant operational by August – RussiaToday
A new facility for destroying chemical weapons in Russia’s Penza region is expected to be operational by August. The new facility is part of Russia’s international obligation to …
June Issue of Chemical Disarmament Quarterly Focuses on Second Review Conference
The June issue of the OPCW publication Chemical Disarmament Quarterly is now available. Its main focus is on the Second Review Conference of the CWC which took place April 7-18 in the Hague.
This issue contains the opening statement by Director General Pfirter and the opening message from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. It also includes the perspectives on the Conference and its progress by Conference Chairperson Ambassador Waleed Ben Abdel Karim El Khereiji of Saudi Arabia, Open-Ended Working Group Chair Ambassador Lyn Parker of the United Kingdom, Ambassador Eric M. Javits of the United States, Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and China representatives Ambassador Oscar de los Reyes Ramos and Justo A. Quintero Mendez of Cuba and the Mission of South Africa on behalf of the Group of African States Parties. Several of the perspectives mention the difficulty in reaching agreements on the content and wording of the review conference final document. However, it was also noted that despite the painstaking process, commitment to the CWC, its fundamental principles, and the will to continue international cooperation for the future of the CWC all remained strong.
Also featured in this issue are perspectives from the NGO and industry communities. There is a short article by Daniel Feakes of the Harvard-Sussex Program and Richard Guthrie from CBW Events which in addition to their take on the RevCon, discusses the role of NGOs in the CWC. This year the RevCon was more ‘NGO-friendly’ than in the past, though more participation will be beneficial in the future. Niel Harvey who represented the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA) and the European Council for the Chemicals Industry (CEFIC) at the RevCon authored an article that brings up of some of the issues of the CWC/OPCW communicating with and engaging the industry community. After encouraging industry participation in the drafting of the CWC, the OPCW needs to continue to work with industry officials. Chemical production facilities are subject to OPCW inspections under the CWC and as national CW stockpiles are diminished, industry will be the focus of the CWC.
Chemical Weapons News – June 13, 2008
From the US:
Wildlife refuge reopens after chemical weapons cleanup – Brighton Standard-Blade
The Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge will re-open Saturday, June 14, after a seven-month closure. The refuge closed in late October after traces of the chemical weapons agent Lewisite were found …
Ala. chemical weapons worker dies of heart attack – The Associated Press
A worker at an incinerator that destroys chemical weapons for the Army died of an apparent heart attack he suffered while working, a coroner said …
Chemical Weapons Incinerator Employee Dies on Job – The Anniston Star – RedOrbit.com
A subcontractor working at the Anniston Chemical Agent Disposal Facility died while on duty Wednesday afternoon. The cause of death for the employee, …
Employee dies at Anniston Army Depot, cause unknown – The Associated Press – al.com
An employee at the Anniston Army Depot incinerator died while on duty Wednesday but the death was not job-related, spokesmen said …
Worker dies at chemical weapons plant in Alabama – The Associated Press
Officials say a worker has died at an Army facility where chemical weapons are destroyed in northeastern Alabama. The laboratory worker at the …
From Russia:
Ukraine concerned over Russia’s chemical disposal plant – RIA Novosti
Ukraine is concerned over a Russian chemical weapons disposal plant currently being constructed 70 km (43 miles) away from its …
Construction of Chemical Weapons Disposal Facility Launched in Russia – ITAR-TASS – RedOrbit.com
The foundation stone of Europe’s largest plant for the destruction of chemical weapons will be laid near the town of Pochep in Bryansk Region on Tuesday [10 June], the spokesperson for the information centre for chemical disarmament …
Russia and Ukraine Close to Scandal Over CWD Plant – Russia-InfoCenter
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Russia considers that Ukraine unreasonably makes a fuss about construction of an object for chemical weapon …
From China:
Drills begin to ensure safe Olympics – China Daily
The potentially fatal chemical agent rendered some 30 victims unconscious. About 400 people acting as audience members evacuated the venue within three …
From Ireland:
Safety fears over cyanide disposal plan – Herald.ie
A plan to destroy 15kg of a lethal chemical in the Wicklow Mountains has sparked public safety fears. South Dublin County Council has confirmed the waste hydrogen cyanide will be destroyed by explosion later this …
OPCW Open Forum Summary
The OPCW has provided on its website a summary of the Second Review Conference Open Forum “The Chemical Weapons Convention – recent experience and future prospects.”
The Open Forum took place on April 9, 2008 at OPCW Headquarters during the Second Review Conference of the CWC. It provided an opportunity for NGO, industry, and academic representatives to address the CWC members. The full presentations from the Forum are also available.
I also attended the Open Forum and posted a report on it on April 10.
U.S. Chemical Weapons Destruction News – June 9, 2008
Army Lauds Progress on Chemical Weapons Disposal – Global Security Newswire
The U.S. military says it has destroyed more than half of its stockpile of chemical warfare agents without harming communities near the disposal sites, the Associated Press reported today …
A look at chemical weapons destruction in the US – The Associated Press
Percentages of the chemical weapons stockpiles that have been destroyed either by incineration or chemical neutralization at five active sites in the United …
VX agent disposal resumes at depot – East Oregonian
The Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility began processing VX nerve agent Monday morning following a two-and-a-half week break after a smoke incident on …
Army: US chemical weapons incineration on track – The Associated Press
When the Army began building incinerators to destroy tons of deadly chemical weapons, many feared the worst …
Emergency Drill Tests Response – The Pueblo Cheiftan – RedOrbit.com
A school bus accident is bad enough but add to the mix a tanker truck full of hazardous chemicals well outside of the city but in an area with large numbers of workers and …
Russia CW Destruction News – June 8, 2008
Russia Gets Rid of Chemical Weapons – Russia-InfoCenter
Following the international obligations regarding presence of chemical weapons in the country, Russia has utilized 10.5 out of 40 tons of the poisoning …
Russia Destroys 10500 Tonnes of Chemical Weapons – Interfax – RedOrbit.com
During the third stage of the chemical weapons destruction programme, Russia has destroyed 10500 tonnes of toxic substances, the head of the …
Russia Destroys Over 10000 Tonnes of Toxic Agents – Interfax – RedOrbit.com
June 3 (Interfax-AVN) – Russia has destroyed 10500 tonnes of toxic agents in a third phase of the program to eliminate chemical weapons, Valery Kashin, …
Western Financial Assistance With Chemical Weapons Minimal: Kapashin – Interfax – RedOrbit.com
Under the Chemical Weapons Convention, which Russia has signed, the country was to destroy 1% (400 tonnes) of its chemical weapons by April 2003 and 20% …
Russia destroys over 25% of its chemical weapons – RIA Novosti
Russia has destroyed over 25% of its chemical weapons arsenal, or 10500 metric tons, a senior military official said on …
Russia Destroyed ΒΌ of Chemical – Kommersant
Of 40000 tons of chemical agents, 10500 have been destroyed during the third stage of the chemical weapon destruction. With funding provided, Russia will be …
Russia Destroys a Quarter of Its Chemical Weapons – DefenseNews
Russia has destroyed more than a quarter of its chemical weapons stocks, in line with international treaties, a top disarmament official was quoted by Russian news agencies …
Russia says it’s cut chemical stockpile – United Press International
Russian officials said Tuesday the country has destroyed more than a quarter of its chemical weapons arsenal, amounting to 10,500 tons of material …
Federation Council to Ratify Deal on Russian-Italian Cooperation in Chemical Weapons Disposal – Interfax – RedOrbit.com
The Russian Federation Council will consider a bill ratifying an agreement between the Russian and Italian governments on cooperation in the disposal of Russian chemical weapons …
PACE Pushes for Locations of WWII CWs Dumped at Sea
Chemical arms: Watchdog wants states to reveal WWII dumps – AKI-AdnKronos
Europe’s top rights watchdog has urged the United Kingdom, United States and NATO to reveal locations of chemical munitions dumped in the Baltic Sea after World War II …
Pace Urges Disclosing Info on Chemical Arms Buried in Baltic – Interfax – RedOrbit.com
All the weapons were initially planned to buried in one of the deeper areas of the Atlantic but, to cut expenditures, some of them ended up being dumped in …
CE wants location of WWII weapons’ dump – PRESS TV
The Council of Europe says Britain and the US should disclose the location of chemical munitions seized from Nazi Germany. The weapons were seized at the …
Guinea-Bissau Joins the Chemical Weapons Convention
On May 20, 2008 Guinea-Bissau deposited its instrument of ratification of the Chemical Weapons Convention. This means the convention will enter into force for Guinea-Bissau on June 19, 2008 making it the 184th state party to the CWC. Currently only 11 nations remain outside of the treaty.
U.S. Chemical Weapons Destruction News – May 27, 2008
In the past week the U.S. Chemical Weapons destruction effort has made several headlines. Here is the rundown:
The Anniston CW disposal site reached a milestone by completing the destruction of all the VX-filled artillery shells stored there. Overall this means that 50% of the Anniston stockpile has been destroyed and complete destruction is expected in 2013.
The Newport disposal site has passed the 90% destruction mark. Plans are now being made for cleanup and dismantling of buildings to facilitate the site’s closure in 2011.
Complete destruction of CW agents at the Pine Bluff Arsenal is expected in 2012, and the facility is looking to the future when its mission will be transitioned to meet current wartime demands.
News was not as good from the Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility. It was shut down May 14 for repairs, but is expected to be functional again in early June. There also was a mustard agent leak detected at the facility, but it was contained inside the storage structures.
Work was suspended at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal after low levels of Lewisite agent were detected in the air at the facility.
Finally, there was a report on the construction of the Pueblo Chemical Depot. Construction may be underway, but the current time lines are well outside of the 2012 destruction deadline mandated by the CWC. The facility should be completed by 2013 and operational by 2015.