The director of chemical operations for the Blue Grass Chemical Activity said officials at the Madison County Army Depot are 100% accountable for all munitions stored in earth covered magazines. David Velazquez said everything checked out during a verification inspection last month. He noted a review as part of the International Treaty agreement could come anytime. “Usually you get, I believe, a 48-hour notice from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, so I don’t know when the next inspection is,” said Velazquez.
Velazquez said his staff is responsible for counting every single chemical weapon stored in igloos. Paperwork detailing chemical weapons must move from the storage igloo to the destruction plant. “It’s critical primarily because there has to be a transfer of custody between us, the unit assigned storage responsibility, to the receiving unit, which is going to be the demil plant, in preparation for their destruction,” explained Velazquez.
Disposal of munitions is continuing at the plant on depot grounds. The BGCA official said 100% of mustard plus GB and VX nerve agent projectiles have been transported and destroyed. Disposal continues for VX and GB rockets.
