| OPCW | Conference of the States Parties |
| First Session | C-I/DEC.24 |
| Agenda item 46.3 | 16 May 1997 |
| Original: ENGLISH |
PROCEDURES FOR THE CLOSURE/INACTIVATION OF CWPF
The Conference
Recalling that the Commission, in its PC-V/12, subparagraph 6.2(a), adopted the understanding that the set of procedures identified as being necessary for the closure/inactivation of CWPFs in the context of their subsequent destruction or, pending a final decision, their temporary conversion to chemical weapons destruction facilities or possible conversion for purposes not prohibited by the Convention, should apply in all of the above three cases,
Bearing in mind that the Commission recommended in paragraph 49.3.5 of its Final Report that the Conference adopt the above mentioned procedures and understanding,
Hereby:
1. Adopts the procedures necessary for the closure/inactivation of CWPFs in the context of their subsequent destruction or, pending a final decision, their temporary conversion to chemical weapons destruction facilities or possible conversion for purposes not prohibited by the Convention, annexed hereto, as well as the understanding that the above mentioned procedures should apply in all of the three cases.
Annex
(blank page)
Chart 1 Guidelines for closure/INACTIVATION of CWPFs
Requirements under paragraph 13 of Illustrative examples of minimum Recommended additional measures to reduce
Part V closure activities the risk of the facility
13 (a) Prohibition of the occupation (a) Disconnect, seal off and shutdown (i)Disconnect, seal off and shut down all
of specialised buildings and standard utility connections except for agreed utility connections (except for safety and
buildings of the facility except for activities as appropriate; (b) Seal environmental purposes)
agreed activities. all doors except those required to
undertake agreed activities. Establish
control and logging procedures for all
unsealed doors.
Chart 1 Guidelines for closure/INACTIVATION of CWPFs
13 (b) Disconnection of equipment (a) Disconnect all utility connections (i) Remove all specialised equipment from
directly related to the production of to specialised equipment; (b) production area, store in a declared secure
chemical weapons, inter alia, process Disconnect and seal off all inlets and location; 1 (ii) Remove all connecting
control equipment and utilities outlets connected to specialised piping from standard equipment
equipment; (c) Disconnect, seal off
and shutdown all utilities connections
to standard equipment; (d) Disconnect
and seal off all inlets and outlets
connected to standard equipment; (e)
Disconnect control circuits to any
power operated valves and sensors to
measure technological parameters.
(f) Use physical and tamper resistant
seals
13(c) Decommissioning of protective (a) Render inoperable specialised (i) Remove some or all of the specialised
installations and equipment used features of the building unless features of the building unless required for
exclusively for the safety of required for safety during safety during destruction of the facility.
operations of the CWPF. destruction/conversion of the facility. Store in a secure location.
Chart 1 Guidelines for closure/INACTIVATION of CWPFs
13 (d) Installation of blind flanges (a) Drain and undertake primary
and other devices to prevent the decontamination of CW process
addition of chemicals to, or the equipment and filling machines. Insert
removal of chemicals from, any blind flanges. (b) Drain heating and
specialised process equipment for cooling liquids and insert blind
synthesis, separation or purification flanges. (c) Empty storage tanks and
of chemicals defined as a chemical cylinders, e.g. liquid, compressed air
weapon, any storage tank, or any or gases exclusively used for the
machine for filling chemical weapons, production of chemical weapons and
the heating, cooling, or supply of insert blind flanges. (d) Disconnect,
electrical or other forms of power to seal off and shut down external water,
such equipment, storage tanks, or electric, sewage, steam and piped
machines natural gas connections, etc. to the
extent that this will not preclude
agreed activities from being
undertaken.
Chart 1 Guidelines for closure/INACTIVATION of CWPFs
13 (e) Interruption of rail, road and (a) Disconnect and seal off material (i) Disconnect, dismantle and seal off
other access routes for heavy pipelines leading from facility except material pipelines from facility except as
transport to the chemical weapons those required for disposal or required for destruction/conversion; (See
production facility except those destruction of waste; (b) Interrupt paragraph 8 of Chairman's paper); (ii)
required for agreed activities rail, road and other heavy transport Dismantle rail, road and other heavy
access routes except as required for transport access routes except as required
agreed activities; (c) Render for agreed activities.
pipeline connections to facility
inactive (e.g., using seals and blind
flanges); (d) disconnect swing-lines
or pipe bridges except as required for
agreed activities (e) Adjust security
measures to that appropriate with a
closed/inactivated CWPF.
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