8/9/2008: Security News Brief: Mustard Gas Leak at Chemical Storage
Facility:

LEXINGTON, Ky: Officials at a chemical weapons stockpile in Kentucky
suspect rising summer temperatures are partly responsible for the
second mustard gas leak in less than two weeks after the storage site
went three years without one. Like the previous leak detected on July
28 at a separate storage igloo, the one found Wednesday at Blue Grass
Army Depot in Richmond was only a low concentration of the blister
agent and not considered dangerous to the community or environment.

Once the source of the leak is detected, the weapon will be packed in
a large leak-proof container to prevent future problems.

Richard Sloan, public affairs officer for the chemical storage site,
said it wasn't clear why there have suddenly been two leaks, but all
signs were pointing toward the heat. Mustard agent is essentially leak-
proof and in a solid form at 56 degrees and lower. When the mercury
rises, so does the opportunity for a leak, Sloan said.

"It's not an accurate predictor, nothing is, but we have found as the
temperature rises, we tend to melt the mustard," Sloan said.

Mustard agent is among the least lethal of the Cold War-era munitions
housed at the depot and other storage sites, and is set to be
destroyed no later than 2017 to comply with an international treaty.
Unlike sarin and other deadly nerve agents housed there, mustard is a
weapon designed to debilitate an opposing Army by causing massive
breakouts of blisters on the body, including the throat and lungs when
inhaled.

Sloan said the concentration of the latest leak was so low, it was
comparable to one grain of salt in 34 freight cars full of potato
chips.

Craig Williams, director of the watchdog Chemical Weapons Working
Group, said he too wasn't concerned, but he said the incidents
underscore the need to dispose of all the weapons as quickly and
safely as possible.

The depot has housed mustard munitions since 1944. Prior to this
summer, the last mustard projectiles to leak were two in 2005. There
were no leaks in 2004 and two each from 2001 through 2003.

By far the worst year for mustard projectile leaks was 1992, when 20
mustard projectiles were reported leaking. Sloan said that was because
officials removed plugs on some of the projectiles, causing several
vapor leaks in succession.

Although mustard gas leaks have become less frequent in recent years,
in August 2007 the depot went into emergency mode to deal with a far
more serious leak of sarin, which is lethal in minute amounts. Earlier
this year, a second sarin vapor leak was detected.

Both of those weapons are expected to be destroyed by the end of the
year using a mobile unit.
Source: Morning Security News Brief via Internal Company News Wire