EPA Announces Plans For Remote Atoll Cleanup

Date: September 5, 2002

Source: News Room

The Environmental Protection Agency has approved the Army's plan to close a chemical weapon disposal facility on a remote Pacific island. The plan includes methods of cleanup and treatment of waste and address concerns about health and ecological risks at the Johnston Atoll Chemical Agency Disposal System. The facility was designed to incinerate military weapons containing blister agent and chemical nerve agent. Beginning in 1990, the Army destroyed 4 million pounds of chemical agent and chemical weapons stored on Johnston Atoll. In 2000, the Army finished destroying the remaining chemical weapons stored there. After closure activities are complete, the atoll will remain a wildlife refuge as established in 1926 and will be turned over to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The atoll, an unincorporated U.S. territory, is about 825 miles southwest of Hawaii.

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