NEUTRALIZATION TOPS INCINERATION: For the first time, this method will be used to destroy chemical weapons

UNDERSECRETARY OF DEFENSE Edward C. (Pete) Aldridge has recommended that munitions containing mustard gas stored at the Pueblo Army Depot in Colorado be destroyed using water-based neutralization followed by biotreatment. Community and political pressure forced the rejection of the Army's preferred option: incineration. This is the first time since the Army began its chemical weapons destruction program in 1984 that neutralization has been selected as the destruction method for agent-containing munitions. Previously the Army chose to neutralize mustard gas and VX nerve gas stored, respectively in bulk containers in Maryland and Indiana. The Pueblo depot stores 2,611 tons of mustard gas in 780,000 munitions. Getting the relevant permits and constructing the neutralization facility will take several years. Craig Williams, director of the Chemical Weapons Working Group, estimates late 2005 as the earliest date weapons destruction can begin. In January, the Army said it could destroy the 1,621 tons of mustard...