Baseline Incineration Process

42 Chemical Weapons/Explosive Waste/Unexploded Ordnance 

After the munitions are disassembled and drained of agents, the munitions components, metal parts, chemical agents, and packaging will be destroyed or decontaminated in four different furnaces. Rocket segments, land mines, and explosive components will be destroyed in a deactivation furnace capable of containing explosions and surges of agent. Projectiles 

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A Modified Baseline Incineration Process for Mustard Projectiles at Pueblo Chemical Depot (August 2001)... 

A MODIFIED BASELINE INCINERATION PROCESS FOR MUSTARD PROJECTILES AT PUEBLO CHEMICAL DEPOT... 

The baseline incineration process employed by the U.S. Army to destroy stockpiled chemical weapons that are in reasonably good condition is not useful for the destruction of non-stockpile chemical weapons because the deteriorated condition of the latter will not allow their disassembly with the existing equipment. The committee postulates that any use of incineration by the United States in the future for destroying recovered chemical weapons (other than, of course, the use of the currently operating baseline incineration facilities to destroy the U.S. stockpile) would be done only as a last resort in special situations and would be primarily for the destruction of agent stored in bulk containers or recovered from bombs and other weapons. 

However, because of the poor condition of recovered non-stockpile items in general, it is not practical to employ a reverse assembly process for the munitions dealt with in non-stockpile operations. On the other hand, the agent destruction part of the baseline incineration process is applicable to recovered bulk agent or to agent that has been recovered from munitions. Three European countries currently employ incineration to destroy agent recovered from old and abandoned chemical weapons. However, the agent recovery methods used are considered out of date, and their future use is not recommended. 

Recently, two alterations to the baseline incineration process have been considered, charcoal filter beds or a hold, test, and release system. In February 1994, NRC recommended the study of activated charcoal filter beds as an addition to the baseline incineration process. The Army and EPA also endorse the addition of charcoal filter beds to baseline incineration because it would further eliminate the risk of toxic air... 

A bank ol several activated charcoal filters would be added to the end of the baseline incineration process. The filters would catch any particulates, products of incomplete combustion, or chemical agent that might make it through the pollution abatement system. 

In 1996, persuaded by public opposition in Lexington, Kentucky, and Pueblo, Colorado, Congress enacted Public Law 104-201, which instructed the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to conduct an assessment of the chemical demilitarization program for destruction of assembled chemical munitions and of the alternative demilitarization technologies and processes (other than incineration) that could be used for the destruction of the lethal chemical agents that are associated with these munitions. In response, the Army established the program manager for the Assembled Chemical Weapons Assessment (PMACWA). In Public Law 104-208, the PMACWA was required to identify and demonstrate not less than two alternatives to the baseline incineration process for the demilitarization of assembled... 

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