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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 22, 2002
Contacts:
Marty Gray, Manager, Chemical Demilitarization Program, (801) 538-6819
Laura Vernon, DEQ Public Information Officer, (801) 536-4484
Aug. 22 marks the sixth anniversary of when chemical weapons began to be destroyed at the Tooele Chemical Demilitarization Facility in Tooele County. To date, Utah has regulated the safe destruction of 44 percent of the chemical weapons stockpiled at the Deseret Chemical Depot.
The first chemical munition, a GB rocket, was destroyed Aug. 22, 1996. Now, all GB agent, including M-55 rockets and weteye bombs, has been destroyed. In 1996, Utah was storing 43 percent of the nation's stockpile of chemical weapons. Currently, Utah has only 25 percent of the nation's stockpile. The Army will soon initiate the campaign to destroy stockpiled VX agent.
As the stockpile is destroyed, the associated health risks decrease.
"Utahns are safer now than they were six years ago," Gov. Mike Leavitt said. "The disposal of the chemical weapons stockpile is a great example of how regulators can work collaboratively to solve environmental problems in a safe, efficient and responsible manner."
The Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has successfully permitted and provided oversight of the Army's operations to destroy the stockpiled chemical weapons. In addition, staff has provided support and assistance to other state regulatory programs as they proceed to permit incinerators or alternative technologies to destroy or neutralize their stockpiled chemical weapons.
"Our primary goal as a regulatory agency is to protect the environment and public health from exposure to contamination, and we have been successful at doing that since this program began," said Marty Gray, manager of the Chemical Demilitarization Program.
As part of Gov. Leavitt's 1,000-day plan, DEQ has implemented its own plan that improves environmental quality for all Utahns. The sixth-year anniversary of chemical weapons disposal operations comes on Day 200 of DEQ's plan and is just one of many milestones DEQ has achieved this year. Please see the attached list of DEQ milestones. The list is also available on the web at www.deq.utah.gov.
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