The U.S. Army has completed the final stages of chemical disposal on Johnston Atoll in the Pacific Ocean, the Associated Press reported today (see GSN, Sept. 9, 2002).

Army officials have now disposed of all cleanup materials, including plastic, sludge, concrete, hoses and aluminum, which were generated by the destruction of 400,000 chemical munitions and 2,000 tons of chemical agents on the island, AP reported.

“This is a significant accomplishment toward the elimination of chemical weapons,” said site manager Gary McCloskey.  He said the Army has “completed the safe thermal processing of the stored secondary wastes that were generated from the destruction of the chemical agents and weapons.”

Johnston Atoll, an unincorporated U.S. territory, lies 825 southwest of Hawaii.  The chemical destruction took almost 10 years and was completed in 2000.  Officials plan to close the operation by the end of this year, and the island will then be transferred to the Interior Department, which will incorporate it into the Johnston Atoll National Wildlife Refuge (David Briscoe, Associated Press/Honolulu Star-Bulletin, April 27).

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