In less than two years, the Deseret Chemical Depot (DCD) will once again become Tooele Army Depot (TEAD) South Area, as it was previously known from 1962 to 1996. The official transfer of authority will take place in July 2013 during an official "casing of the colors" ceremony, marking the end of DCD's command.
When DCD was placed on the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) list in 2005, the plan was to transfer the depot to TEAD when the chemical weapons destruction mission was complete. However, BRAC laws and regulations have a six-year implementation period, which expired in September. It was then that TEAD's higher headquarters, the U.S. Joint Munitions Command (JMC), had to make a decision.
A cost-benefit analysis was prepared by TEAD to re-evaluate their position and determine if the transfer would still be beneficial. Following a visit to DCD, Brig. Gen. Gustave Perna, JMC commanding general, approved the plan for TEAD to assume DCD.
"This decision provides TEAD with a great opportunity to resolve critical storage issues and improve mission efficiencies. TEAD is currently at 91 percent occupied and the additional storage space will allow us to apply proper and effective storage management practices that will translate into operational gains," said Keith Siniscalchi, TEAD Director of Ammunition Operations.
Besides the ammunition storage space, TEAD also plans to use some of the existing buildings to support their mission. They are currently working with other potential partnerships, which will potentially use some of the additional administrative buildings at the depot.
Additionally, TEAD will inherit oversight of the DCD environmental remediation efforts, which will not be affected by this change. They will work hand-in-hand with the Army Corps of Engineers, who will directly manage the remediation contracts.
Although Tooele Chemical Agent Disposal Facility operations will be complete in early 2012, closure operations will continue through 2014. Together, officials from both depots are working to develop a plan for TEAD to continue support of the remaining closure activities.
"On July 11, 2013, we will case our colors, essentially ending DCD as a separate command," said DCD Commander Col. Mark Pomeroy. "We will hand over our keys to TEAD and it will again become TEAD South."
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