Under criminal investigation: Army depot where 500 tons of our weapons of mass destruction are store

[babylonsister]

http://newsgrinder.blogspot.com/2007/04/criminal-investigation-of-army-depot.html

Under criminal investigation: Army depot where 500 tons of our weapons of mass destruction are stored.

It was 1942 when the Army got hold of a farmer's land in Kentucky's Madison County, and some of that land is still leased to farmers as a place for their livestock.

But look what else is there: Approximately 70,000 weapons containing 500 tons of nerve agent.

These weapons are stored in igloos that are tested before workers can enter. A series of precautions are adhered to to ensure safety, but Mother Nature could be the facility's undoing. According to this report, "the greatest threat to the weapons is believed to be an earthquake, which could cause weapons to be shaken or knocked over. The threat of a terrorist attack is highly unlikely, according to several depot officials."

But that reassurance doesn't dispel concerns about how the Blue Grass Army Depot is operated. From a report in The Richmond Register we learn this:

"Claims of high-level misconduct and mismanagement involving the depot and its tenants are among reports which a federal grand jury has been convened to investigate, according to a Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) press release."

But an official with the depot says the press release is simply "legal maneuvering."

Even so, "an environmental crimes lawyer for the U.S. Department of Justice wrote a letter asking depot officials to preserve files, notebooks, e-mails, calendars and other physical evidence that may pertain to a grand jury subpoena."

Like so many investigations, it took a whistleblower to get it started.

Get much more info here.

http://www.richmondregister.com/homepage/local_story_093084214.html?keyword=leadpicturestory


http://www.richmondregister.com/localnews/local_story_093084013.html?keyword=secondarystory
Safety worries started with whistle blower
By Bryan Marshall
Register News Writer

Two or three other employees of the Blue Grass Army Depot have joined a former worker-turned whistle blower who raised questions about the plant’s safety.

As an air-monitoring unit operator, Donald Van Winkle of Berea released an official affidavit Aug. 25, 2005, summarizing his concerns that leak detection devices for the deadly VX agent at the depot were not working properly. His complaint was filed under the Clean Air Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

“In February or March of this year, I, along with other BGAD employees, attended training sessions with the manufacturer of the air-monitoring equipment we use,” Van Winkle wrote in his affidavit. “During our training, we learned that the (air) sampling (methods) being used at BGAD to monitor the seven igloos that store munitions containing agent VX were incorrect.”

In his affidavit, Van Winkle also revealed that:

• The supervisor of lab operations admitted, in a meeting with more than a dozen employees, ordering the change in monitors to increase ease of access even though it was known that the change would compromise leak detection.

• Conversion pads in the monitors have an effective life of between 10 and 30 days, but are often changed far less frequently.

more...

[crikkett]

1. Wow you really dig up some gems, babylonsister

i'm impressed! This could be the breaking scandal of the day.

[babylonsister]

2. I thought it might be important, but looks like you and me are the

only ones who think so. :shrug:

[crikkett]

3. give it a day or so...

or submit it to TPM. Everyone today is enthralled with Pelosi / Iraq etc

[OneGrassRoot]

5. I second that - you are much appreciated, babylonsister! n/t

[Blue Diadem]

4. OMG, I have friends who live in that area.

I've spoken with one previously about the dangers, she's told me that they know where to go in case there's a release/leak etc. I'm going to have to email her and find out if she knows about this.

Thanks babylonsister.

[me b zola]

6. Rather than tearing up our Constitution, stripping us of our civil liberties,

and invading foreign lands that were not a threat to the US, this is the type of thing that should have been addressed by the administration following 911.



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