Thank You DCD/TOCDF Team

Dangerous chemical weapons have been stored at Deseret Chemical Depot (DCD) as early as the close of World War II. The Army has been storing the aging munitions in earth covered, concrete bunkers in Rush Valley for decades. Now, employees at DCD and the Tooele Chemical Agent Disposal Facility (TOCDF) reached two major milestones last month.

DCD workers delivered the last On-site Container (ONC) transporting the final bulk storage container to the TOCDF on May 11, 2011. This final ONC delivery represented more than 24,000 total ONC deliveries from the storage area to the disposal facility, all of which were completed safely and without any harm to people or the environment.

Then on May 16, 2011 the last mustard agent-filled bulk storage container was punched, drained of its contents, and put through the metal parts furnace. That incinerator subjected the container to temperatures reaching 1600 degrees Fahrenheit, completely destroying any chemical agent still inside. The drained contents were also completely burned up in a liquid incinerator at 2700 degrees Fahrenheit.

The dedicated and courageous workers at DCD and TOCDF have been safely whittling away at what was originally 44 percent of the nation’s chemical weapons stockpile since August 1996. The Tooele County Commissioners are very proud of those workers’ historic achievement and express their gratitude and congratulations for a job well done.

Commissioner Colleen Johnson said, “I think it's a great accomplishment that all involved with DCD and TOCDF can be proud of. It has also provided Tooele County and the EOC with some valuable training that wouldn't have happened otherwise."

Commissioner Bruce Clegg added his thanks, “I appreciate the dedicated men and women who have worked so hard to safely rid our community of those dangerous weapons. I have commissioner oversight of emergency management and know what a good relationship we’ve had with the workforce at DCD. They’ve done an excellent job providing this service to our county and the nation.”

Commissioner Jerry Hurst explained why the workers deserve this recognition. “The people at DCD have been very efficient at disposing of those munitions with very few problems. They are a top notch crew. I appreciate how the management keeps us informed of what they’re doing and what their schedule is.”

At this major milestone, staff at Tooele County Emergency Management also expresses their thanks for the relationships established with the people at DCD. They have been honest, informative, and friendly throughout the two decades we’ve been working together.

Tooele County Emergency Management Director, Kari Sagers, voiced her gratitude for all the work over the years that preceded this event. She said, “I knew that something was out there at DCD all my life growing up in Tooele, but wasn’t familiar with the enormity of it until becoming involved with CSEPP in 1989. Originally, the amounts of agent were classified until the early 90’s. When I heard how much it was, I remember thinking we’ll never ever be able to get that processed. I kept thinking there would be hiccups all along the way, delaying the work. Now here we are with the last bulk container having been destroyed at the TOCDF. I’m just amazed at the huge feat that’s been accomplished.”

Although the last major campaign is completed and there are no more planned agent operations scheduled at TOCDF, there is still more work to do. DCD and TOCDF employees are preparing to destroy a few hundred mustard-filled munitions that are too badly deteriorated to put through the TOCDF, and a handful of GA nerve agent and Lewisite blister agent-filled bulk containers. Workers are constructing new facilities within the chemical storage area, specifically designed to handle the remaining stockpile at DCD.

U.S. Army commanders and managers anticipate concluding the remaining agent demilitarization (destruction) operations early 2012, ahead of the April 2012 International Chemical Weapons Treaty deadline. The final elimination of all agent munitions at DCD will be another historic event for Tooele County, the U.S. Army, and the world. I look forward to it.