It looks like you're using an Ad Blocker.
Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.
Thank you.
Some features of ATS will be disabled while you continue to use an ad-blocker.
Army officials detected a GB vapor leak Monday from an M55 rocket stored at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Madison County. Inspectors discovered the leak during routine maintenance and monitoring procedures
Sarin, also known by its NATO designation of GB, is an extremely toxic substance whose sole application is as a nerve agent. As a chemical weapon, it is classified as a weapon of mass destruction by the United Nations in UN Resolution 687. Production and stockpiling of sarin was outlawed by the Chemical Weapons Convention of 1993.
Operation Swift Solution The Program Manager Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PMACWA) initiated Operation Swift Solution to safely eliminate three deteriorating steel containers and wastes associated with the management of these steel containers currently in storage at the Blue Grass Army Depot. These steel containers have also been commonly referred to as "one-ton containers," or simply "ton containers."
.
CHATS technology will drain the three deteriorating steel containers stored at the Blue Grass Army Depot and transfer their contents into neutralization reactors. Once empty, the containers will be decontaminated, cut in two and recycled
Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction
Timeline
The treaty set up several steps with deadlines toward complete destruction of chemical weapons.
Reduction Phases Phase % Reduction Deadline Notes
I 1% April 2000
II 20% April 2002 Complete destruction of empty munitions, precursor chemicals,
filling equipment and weapons systems
III 45% April 2004
IV 100% April 2007 No extensions permitted past April 2012
[edit] Current progress
By July 2007, 33% of known chemical weapons stockpiles had been destroyed worldwide, falling far short of the 100% goal set for in 2007.[9] Furthermore, by April 2008, only 50% of countries had passed the required legislation to outlaw participation in chemical weapons production[10]. By December 31, 2007, 36.5% of Class 1, 52% of Class 2 and all Class 3 declared chemicals had been destroyed.[11]
Albania: On 11 July 2007, the OPCW confirmed the destruction of the entire chemical weapons stockpile in Albania. Albania is the first nation to completely destroy all of its chemical weapons under the terms of the CWC.[11] The Albanian stockpile included 16,678 kilograms of mustard agent, lewisite, adamsite, and chloroacetophenone. The United States assisted with and funded the destruction operations.[12]
A State Party: The unspecified "state party" had destroyed 96.3% of its stockpile by the end of 2007 and is expected to finish the process by the end of 2008.[11]
India: 93.1% of India's chemical weapons stockpile was destroyed by the end of 2007 and India is expected to finish destruction by April 2009.[11]
Libya: Libya's entire chemical weapons stockpile is expected to be destroyed by 2011[11]
U.S.A.: The United States of America completed Phase III in June 2007, having destroyed over 50.7% of its declared stockpile by December 31, 2007.[11] Over 66% of the chemical weapons destroyed in the world since the treaty came into force were destroyed in the U.S. The United States General Accounting Office has announced it does not expect the United States to complete its campaign until 2014, after the treaty's final deadline. The Pentagon, in late 2006, announced that it expected disposal of the U.S. stockpile to not be completed until 2023.[13]
Russia: Russia had destroyed 24% of its stockpile by the end of 2007.[9][11] Russia completed Phase II in 2007 and had received extensions on the remaining phases. The United States General Accounting Office has announced it does not expect Russia to reach 100% destruction until 2027; however, Russia has declared its intention to complete operations by the treaty deadline of 2012.[11]
[edit] Financing
Financial support for the Albanian and Libyan stockpile destruction programmes was provided by the United States. Russia received support from a number of nations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Canada; some $2 billion given by 2004. Costs for Albania's program were approximately 48 million U.S. dollars. The U.S. had spent $20 billion and expected to spend a further $40 billion.[9]
On Monday 20 March 1995, five members of Aum Shinrikyo
Aum Shinrikyo
Aum Shinrikyo was a Japanese Buddhist religious group created by Shoko Asahara....
launched a chemical attack on the Tokyo Metro
Tokyo Metro
is one of two metro systems that make up the Tokyo subway system. ...
, one of the world's busiest commuter transport systems
List of rapid transit systems
This is an alphabetical list of cities worldwide that have a rapid transit system, or a light-rail system with some elements...
, at the peak of the morning rush hour
Rush hour
A rush hour is a part of the day with busy traffic and hence traffic congestion on the roads and crowded public transport; n...
. The chemical agent used, liquid sarin
Sarin Summary
Sarin, also known by its NATO designation of GB is an extremely toxic substance whose sole application is as a nerve ...
, was contained in plastic bags which each team then wrapped in newspaper. Each perpetrator carried two packets of sarin totaling approximately 900 millilitres of sarin, except Yasuo Hayashi, who carried three bags. A single drop of sarin the size of a pinhead can kill an adult.
Congress has mandated a deadline of December 31, 2004, for disposal of the U.S. chemical weapons stockpile. On January 23, 1995, the Army released a report to the public on the remaining storage life of the M55 rockets in the U.S. chemical weapons stockpile. As part of the Chemical Stockpile Disposal Program, the Army has performed several hazard analyses and risk assessments of continued storage of chemical munitions, including this recent study on M55 rocket propellant stability. These studies were conducted to determine if degradation of munitions and their contents could contribute to an increased risk to the public. The results indicate that the rockets can be safely stored until they are required to be disposed of by the congressionally-mandated deadline.