TOOELE ARMY DEPOT SOUTH, Utah -- Since the closure ceremony of Deseret Chemical Depot, Utah, in July 2013, Tooele Army Depot proper assumed the 19,000-plus acres of Department of Defense property and structures.
While the chemical weapons stockpile has been safely destroyed, other environmental restoration projects have continued. TEAD-S recovered approximately 235 liquid and/or solid filled munitions, which includes 4.2-inch mortars, 75mm shells and 105mm projectiles. Army experts used nonintrusive equipment to assess the contents of the items, and found all 235 munitions contained the chemical agent mustard. Since their recovery, the workers handling these munitions have observed strict security and decontamination procedures, ensuring the munitions remain in a safe, secure storage at TEAD-S pending destruction.
The U.S. Army Chemical Materials Activity Recovered Chemical Material Directorate (CMA RCMD) conducted the assessment studies with their expert technology to determine whether these munitions are explosively configured or contains chemical agent.
The final analysis totaled 193 4.2-inch mortars, 40 105mm projectiles, and two 75mm munitions, all containing mustard agent. These 235 munitions have been packaged and safely stored, awaiting destruction in a secure location at TEAD-S.
Beginning June 14, CMA RCMD began operating the Explosive Destruction System (EDS), under permit from the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, to safely destroy these 235 munitions that are safely stored at TEAD-S. The Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) will operate the EDS. Both CMA "RCMD and ECBC are headquartered in the Edgewood Area of Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.
June 15, (day 1) of destruction operations of six -- 4.2" mortars safely began.
The system's main component, a sealed, stainless steel vessel, contains all the blast, vapor and fragments from the process. Leaving zero harm to the vicinity or local community. Operators confirm treatment by sampling residual liquid and air from the vessel prior to reopening the EDS.
Timeline: Utah State approval for permitting completed in April 2016; EDS setup completed in May 2016, start of destruction operations scheduled 14 June 2016; and estimated completion timeframe is early spring 2017.
About DESERET CHEMICAL DEPOT: Deseret Chemical Warfare Depot was inaugurated on 11 July 1943 when it was dedicated as a storage installation for the Army's chemical materials and munitions stockpile. During the years to follow it was re-designated as Deseret Chemical Depot in 1946, made an activity and placed under command of the Western Chemical Warfare Center in 1947, placed under command and control of the Chemical Warfare Service in 1950, redesignated as an activity under Tooele Ordnance Depot in 1967, and finally in 1969, restructured as a directorate and placed under command and control of Tooele Army Depot where it remained until June of 1995 when it became Tooele Chemical Activity, a separate tenant activity reporting to the Soldier and Biological Chemical Command. On October 2, 1996, Tooele Chemical Activity was re-designated once again as the Deseret Chemical Depot, then under Command and Control of the U.S. Army Chemical Materials Activity located in Aberdeen Maryland. July 11th, 2013 marked 70 years to the day of the inauguration of the depot and the end of 70 years of operation as a chemical weapons storage site in support of the United States Army.
About TOOELE ARMY DEPOT: The Tooele Army Depot was established in 1942 as the Tooele Ordnance Depot, and for 72 years it has committed itself to readiness and rapid munitions response for America's allies and warfighters. Tooele Army Depot provides storage, maintenance and logistics capability under the Army's Joint Munitions Command (JMC). The Depot specializes in providing services in ammunition equipment prototype design, development, manufacturing and fielding. The depot also develops innovative Ammunition Peculiar Equipment (APE) used for demilitarization, as well as completing renovation, modification, modernization and maintenance of conventional-type munitions.
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