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AOC 36 - Mustard Gas Investigation Report
Section 10.0 - Summary and Conclusions
To be in compliance with the notice of intent filed in the Federal Register on October 18, 1996, CSSA reviewed records to determine the potential for the existence of chemical warfare agents at the facility. Records indicated that six mustard gas shells were buried and detonated at CSSA in 1942. Later records show that, in 1958, a U.S. Army Chemical Corps Technical Unit returned to the burial site with the intent of locating all remaining mustard gas shells. Three shells were found, removed, and taken to the CSSA Demolition Area for detonation, burning, and decontamination. To ensure that no mustard gas shells remain at the site today, CSSA took a number of investigation steps.
First, the location of the site was located and surveyed using coordinates provided in the 1958 records. Then, former personnel employed at CSSA at the time of the excavation were interviewed to confirm the suspected location.
A systematic magnetometer survey was conducted in the suspected area over a tightly spaced grid. Several anomalies were identified, but the majority of these were caused by small, shallow scrap metal associated with SWMU B-28. Each anomaly was excavated and identified. Although a few UXO items were identified in the B-28 trenches, there were no mustard gas shells or evidence of them. The final step of soil sifting removed any remaining UXO items and scrap metal. This comprehensive approach indicates that no mustard gas shells are located in the only area at CSSA suspected of having shells. We therefore request the state concur and provide a memorandum stating AOC 36 is closed.