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Re: NRC Urges Better Monitoring Of Stored Arms
I'm acronym challenged, but, in this case, I think that "NRC" means
"National Research Council," NOT "Nuclear Regulatory Commission."
The opinions expressed are strictly mine.
It's not about dose, it's about trust.
Curies forever.
Bill Lipton
liptonw@dteenergy.com
Gerry Blackwood wrote:
> NRC Urges Better Monitoring Of Stored Arms
>
> http://pubs.acs.org/cen/topstory/8207/8207notw9.html
>
> LOIS EMBER
>
> The Army has been monitoring its aging stockpile of chemical
> weapons for leaks for 30 years, yet a recent study by the
> National Research Council urges improvements to protect the
> environment, workers, and adjacent communities. More than 3
> million sarin-, VX-, and mustard gas-filled weapons are stored at
> eight U.S. sites and are being or will be destroyed.
>
> Three decades of monitoring has resulted in a massive amount of
> data, but the Army has mismanaged much of the collected
> information, the NRC committee finds. Scarce or missing is
> information on the age of leaking munitions and the temperature
> at which the weapons are stored. Leaks may increase with
> temperature and with aging, the committee warns. It recommends
> that the Army "improve its handling of the data and analyze it
> for trends in leak developments and other anomalies."
>
> The Army's monitoring program has focused on sarin-filled weapons
> that are prone to leak. But the NRC committee cites its concern
> for the Army's less vigilant efforts in monitoring leaks of
> mustard gas- and VX-filled munitions. Levels of stabilizers in VX
> weapons may be dropping to very low levels, leading to increased
> leakage rates.
>
> Another hazard the committee cites is the buildup of pressurized
> hydrogen in weapons as mustard gas degrades. It calls on the Army
> to take steps to minimize this risk.
>
> Risk from ongoing degradation of stored weapons is minor now, but
> degradation will only continue, cautions committee Chairman Peter
> B. Lederman. So, the retired New Jersey Institute of Technology
> professor says, swiftly destroying the weapons "is ultimately the
> only effective way to reduce risks to the public."
>
>
>
>
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