News - Local
Pueblo chemical weapons waste sent to Texas
Posted: Apr 27, 2010 10:39 AM by Bea Karnes, News First 5
Hazardous waste from old chemical munitions sampling operations, spills and decontamination procedures associated with leaking mustard agent-filled munitions were packed up at the Pueblo Chemical Depot on Monday and shipped to Texas.
The barrels were loaded into three transport trucks and taken to a hazardous waste destruction facility at Port Arthur, Texas.
The waste has accumulated since the mid 1980s.
Pueblo Chemical Depot Commander Lt. Col. Rob Wittig was present, along with federal, state and local officials. “I am very pleased with the coordinated efforts of the Depot, the Chemical Materials Agency and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment in getting this waste safely transferred and destroyed," said Wittig. "This was a fairly significant effort that was only made possible by everyone’s common goal of protecting our local friends and neighbors, the workers, and the environment.”
Veolia Environmental Services in Port Arthur to treat and dispose of the waste. Veolia treats these same wastes from the other CMA chemical storage sites through incineration.
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