Associated Press - October 23, 2009 8:44 AM ET
ANNISTON, Ala. (AP) - Officials say maintenance teams at a chemical weapons disposal plant are cleaning up after a small fire was found during the processing of a mortar filled with a mustard agent.
The Anniston Chemical Agent Disposal Facility reports that some of the mustard agent from a 4.2-inch mortar spilled onto the floor in an explosion containment room at 2 p.m. Tuesday, but there were no injuries.
A news release says robotic equipment was being used in a specially designed blast containment room, with concrete walls 2 feet thick, to remove the mortar fuse and burster.
The statement says there was no explosion and there was no damage to the remote-controlled robotic equipment.
Mustard munitions disposal operations at the facility began in early July.
Information from: The Birmingham News, http://www.al.com/birminghamnews
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