Aug 7 2007
Washington Group International announced today that negotiations with the U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency have been completed for additions to Washington Group's contracts at three U.S. chemical weapons demilitarization plants, with the value of the modifications totaling approximately $2.5 billion.
The contracts call for Washington Group to continue to destroy chemical warfare agent and weapons and to also close down operations and related facilities in Anniston, Ala., Umatilla, Ore., and Pine Bluff, Ark. The contract modifications are targeted at maximizing agent and weapons destruction by April 2012, with the closure of facilities to follow.
"We are proud to play a leadership role in the safe and disciplined disposal of chemical weapons," said Stephen G. Hanks, Washington Group president and chief executive officer. "It is part of our overall efforts of making the world safer -- from destroying chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons and materials to helping fortify critical infrastructure to protect against potential threats."
Washington Group has been performing chemical demilitarization operations in Anniston, Umatilla, and Pine Bluff for several years, successfully destroying more than 432,000 rockets, mortars, projectiles, landmines, and bulk containers of chemical agent and nearly 2,139 tons of chemical warfare material. Washington Group employees at the three plants have also excelled in safety, recording more than 21 million work hours without a lost day of work. The Anniston and Umatilla facilities have also received the Occupational Safety and Health Agency's Star Status under its Voluntary Protection Program.
From 1985 to 2000, Washington Group successfully operated and closed the Army's prototype chemical demilitarization plant, the Johnson Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System, located about 800 miles southwest of Hawaii. Operations at Johnston Atoll included safely destroying over 400,000 weapons and 2,200 tons of various chemical warfare agents.
Washington Group is also on the team that will manage operations at neutralization-based chemical demilitarization plants in Pueblo, Colo., and Blue Grass, Ky.
The United States came under the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention in April 1997. The treaty includes a destruction schedule for chemical weapons stockpiles and a system of regular inspections. In all, 182 nations signed the treaty. Earlier this year, the U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency announced the safe destruction of 45 percent of the U.S. chemical weapons stockpile, accomplishing a major treaty milestone well ahead of the other signatory nations with major stockpiles.