Leaks of chemical warfare materials at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Kentucky at times was not reported for weeks on at least one occasion, according to information posted online yesterday by a watchdog organization (see GSN, July 22).
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility uploaded a number of documents received through a Freedom Of Information Act request to the group's Web site. The documents were produced during a federal criminal investigation launched in December 2005 after some Blue Grass employees came forward with reports of oversight deficiencies at the installation, according to a PEER press release.
The investigation ended in March of this year after federal authorities decided that criminal intent on the part of the depot managers could not be established. However, the watchdog group believes that the documents it obtained show a history of negligence at the depot.
One Army investigator's January 2006 report detailed information shared by a depot employee that igloos where chemical weapons were stored were at times improperly monitored for leaks and that one igloo was leaking for six weeks before it was reported to the state.
A depot whistle-blower also said that mold in the igloos was significantly weakening the wooden pallets on which chemical munitions are stored.
According to the investigator's interview notes, "approximately one to two weeks ago an incident occurred in an igloo, in which a pallet collapsed. None of the individuals involved were wearing their protective gear; however they were saved when the wires holding the munitions in the pallets kept the munitions stable."
A whistle-blower also told investigators that the depot had inept management that was unable to conduct the proper testing to ascertain chemical weapon leakage.
"This appears to be a case where ignorance of the law turned out to be an excuse,” said PEER Senior Counsel Paula Dinerstein in a released statement “If what occurs at Blue Grass is not be a crime it is certainly nothing to be proud of" (Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility release, Dec. 22).