Chemical Incinerator Accused Of Cutting Corners

Date: May 2, 2002

Source: News Room

Managers at the nation's only chemical weapons incinerator in Tooele, Utah encouraged workers to cut corners so a deadly nerve agent stockpile could be destroyed before the Winter Olympics in nearby Salt Lake City, a plant employee says. Brenda Mugleston, who has worked for eight years at the Tooele Chemical Agent Disposal Facility, told The Associated Press workers were promised a $750 bonus for meeting the deadline. She said they felt pressure from managers to increase productivity and they sometimes mishandled weapons. Mugleston said she feared workers and the public were being endangered and told managers but nothing was done. Tooele, located 40 miles west of Salt Lake City, is home to the Pentagon's incinerator, created to destroy 13,616 tons of the chemical weapons stockpile.

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