ANNISTON ARMY DEPOT, Ala. (December 22, 2009) - Chemical munitions stockpile

demilitarization operations at the Anniston Chemical Agent Disposal Facility (ANCDF) were

temporarily suspended following an interruption in the robotic disassembly of a mortar tonight.

ANCDF control room employees were monitoring normal operations at 5:30 p.m. when

they noticed a "flash" in one of the facility's two Explosion Containment Rooms (ECR). At the

time of the flash, robotic equipment was removing the explosive fuze and burster from a

mustard-filled 4.2-inch mortar. The routine operation, done for more than 75,500 other

mustard-filled munitions since July, normally includes the separation of the burster from the

nose cone.

Under standard operating procedures, the equipment automatically tries to separate the

burster from the nose cone. According to the site manager, "At this time the rear portion of the

burster flashed. The nose cone assembly appears to be intact."

No one is allowed in the ECR during munition disposal operations there. The "flash" did

not injure anyone. There is no apparent damage to ANCDF equipment. Also notable is that the

flash did not involve any mustard agent.

The ANCDF manager said, "There was no threat to other ANCDF personnel, the depot work

force, or the surrounding community.

"ANCDF disposal operations will not resume until managers and regulators are sure that it

is safe to do so," the manager said.

Since disposal operations began in August 2003, more than 437,300 (66.1 percent) nerve

agent and mustard-filled munitions have been safely processed. Operations have also processed

more than 330,670 gallons (64.8 percent) of liquid nerve and mustard agents. Since July, ANCDF

employees have processed more than 75,500 mustard-filled mortars.