Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

The chemical agent experience at Rocky Mountain Arsenal

Conference ·
OSTI ID:416154
 [1]
  1. Rocky Mountain Arsenal, Commerce City, CO (United States)
Rocky Mountain Arsenal (RMA) was constructed and commissioned in 1942 for the production of sulfur mustard and other chemical munitions for possible use in World War II. RMA also became a production site for Lewisite and Sarin, including synthesis and munition filling. Other chemical agents such as Phosgene were routinely handled, filled into munitions and demilitarized. During the 1970`s and the early 1980`s, RMA served as a primary demilitarization facility for the destruction of chemical agents. Throughout its chemical weapons history, RMA generated waste materials from production, neutralization, decontamination and testing. These operations led to the possibility of chemical agent contamination in soils, process equipment and structures that have required special attention as part of the overall Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) environmental cleanup operations being conducted by the Program Manager Rocky Mountain Arsenal (PMRMA). Adjusting normal sampling operations associated with CERCLA-type activities for the special Army regulations covering chemical agents has been a difficult task. This presentation will describe the evolution of chemical agent related efforts and operations as they pertain to RMA environmental cleanup activities, to include field sampling requirements, analytical methods, commercial laboratory use and the role of the on-site PMRMA laboratory.
Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
OSTI ID:
416154
Report Number(s):
ORNL/M--4315; CONF-9409370--; ON: DE95016127
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English