OPCW Delegation Visits Chemical Weapons Destruction Facility in Umatilla

To date, the facility has completed the destruction of all GB and VX agents, representing 37% of the original stockpile at that site

The control room, which guides an automated process to dispose of chemical agents. Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility. (Photo: U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency)

Following its visit to the Pueblo Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant in Colorado on 2 June 2009, an OPCW delegation concluded a visit to the United States of America on 4 June 2009 by visiting the chemical weapons destruction facility located at Umatilla, Oregon.

During the visit to Umatilla, US officials provided briefings on the US Chemical Demilitarization Program and in particular on the Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility. In the course of this visit, the OPCW delegation also toured the chemical weapons destruction facility and met with the OPCW inspection team deployed at the site to verify that the destruction of CW is carried out in accordance with the provisions and requirements of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

The Umatilla Chemical Weapons Disposal Facility will destroy 3,374 metric tones of chemical warfare agents. To date, the facility has completed the destruction of all GB and VX agents, representing 37% of the original stockpile at that site, and will this week start the destruction of the remaining 2,122 metric tones of mustard agent.

In December 2006, the US was granted an extension to complete the destruction of its Category 1 chemical weapons by 29 April 2012. To date, the US has destroyed a total of 16,958.5 metric tonnes, or more than 61% of its declared stockpile.

OPCW News 26/2009, posted 5 June 2009