Pine Bluff Chemical Activity
Encyclopedia
Pine Bluff Chemical Activity (abbreviated PBCA) is a U.S. Army agency that controlled the chemical weapon storage site located at Pine Bluff Arsenal
in Pine Bluff, Arkansas
. The U.S. Army stored approximately twelve percent of its original chemical weapons at the Pine Bluff Arsenal since 1942. Destruction of the last chemical weapons occurred on November 12, 2010.
Pine Bluff Arsenal stored 90,409 M55 GB rockets, 19,608 M55 VX rockets, 9,378 M23 VX landmines and 3,703 mustard ton containers. It was also the home for the Binary Chemical Weapons Facility. The facility created the two toxic agents that would combine to form VX
as well as built the bombs to deliver the nerve agent. Construction of the facility began in the mid-1980s and was mothballed prior to completion in the early 1990s as part of the chemical weapons treaties .
The Pine Bluff Chemical Agent Disposal Facility was completed in 2002, and the Army began weapons disposal in March 2005. By December 2007, the facility had destroyed all of its GB
(sarin)- containing rockets and began processing VX
-containing munitions. In February 2008 they processed their last VX-containing rocket and in May 2008 began processing VX landmines. Landmine processing was completed in June 2008 and the facility changed over to processing ton containers of mustard gas, the last remaining chemical weapons on site. The facility reached 100% destruction of its total chemical stockpile of 3,850 metric tons on November 12, 2010.
The Chemical Biological (CB) Defense activities at Pine Bluff Arsenal also consists of the manufacture of personnel and equipment decontamination kits; repair and testing of chemical protective clothing; and rebuilding and calibrating defensive chemical test equipment.
The Pine Bluff Binary Destruction Facility began operations in December 2005 and in April 2006, completed destruction of DF or methylphosphonic difluoride, an ingredient in the binary weapon
deployment of sarin
. The destruction of QL, or diisopropyl aminoethylmethyl phosphonite, a binary component for VX
was accomplished between April and October 2006.
The U.S. Army Non-Stockpile Chemical Materiel Project eliminated small quantities of various chemical weapons held by the U.S. including Nazi German Traktor rockets. This project used the "Explosive Destruction System" and was completed by April 2010.
Arkansas°N date=December 2010°W
Pine Bluff Arsenal
The Pine Bluff Arsenal is a US Army installation located in Jefferson County, Arkansas, just northwest of the city of Pine Bluff. PBA is one of the six Army installations in the United States that store chemical weapons...
in Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
. The U.S. Army stored approximately twelve percent of its original chemical weapons at the Pine Bluff Arsenal since 1942. Destruction of the last chemical weapons occurred on November 12, 2010.
Pine Bluff Arsenal stored 90,409 M55 GB rockets, 19,608 M55 VX rockets, 9,378 M23 VX landmines and 3,703 mustard ton containers. It was also the home for the Binary Chemical Weapons Facility. The facility created the two toxic agents that would combine to form VX
VX
VX may refer to:* VX , a neurotoxic chemical warfare agent* ACES Colombia, a now-defunct airline, IATA code* vx, an airplane's best angle of climb airspeed; see V speeds...
as well as built the bombs to deliver the nerve agent. Construction of the facility began in the mid-1980s and was mothballed prior to completion in the early 1990s as part of the chemical weapons treaties .
The Pine Bluff Chemical Agent Disposal Facility was completed in 2002, and the Army began weapons disposal in March 2005. By December 2007, the facility had destroyed all of its GB
Sarin
Sarin, or GB, is an organophosphorus compound with the formula [2CHO]CH3PF. It is a colorless, odorless liquid, which is used as a chemical weapon. It has been classified as a weapon of mass destruction in UN Resolution 687...
(sarin)- containing rockets and began processing VX
VX (nerve agent)
VX, IUPAC name O-ethyl S-[2-ethyl] methylphosphonothioate, is an extremely toxic substance whose only application is in chemical warfare as a nerve agent. As a chemical weapon, it is classified as a weapon of mass destruction by the United Nations in UN Resolution 687...
-containing munitions. In February 2008 they processed their last VX-containing rocket and in May 2008 began processing VX landmines. Landmine processing was completed in June 2008 and the facility changed over to processing ton containers of mustard gas, the last remaining chemical weapons on site. The facility reached 100% destruction of its total chemical stockpile of 3,850 metric tons on November 12, 2010.
The Chemical Biological (CB) Defense activities at Pine Bluff Arsenal also consists of the manufacture of personnel and equipment decontamination kits; repair and testing of chemical protective clothing; and rebuilding and calibrating defensive chemical test equipment.
The Pine Bluff Binary Destruction Facility began operations in December 2005 and in April 2006, completed destruction of DF or methylphosphonic difluoride, an ingredient in the binary weapon
Binary chemical weapon
Binary chemical weapons or munitions are chemical weapons wherein the toxic agent is not contained within the weapon in its active state, but in the form of two chemical precursors, physically separated within the weapon...
deployment of sarin
Sarin
Sarin, or GB, is an organophosphorus compound with the formula [2CHO]CH3PF. It is a colorless, odorless liquid, which is used as a chemical weapon. It has been classified as a weapon of mass destruction in UN Resolution 687...
. The destruction of QL, or diisopropyl aminoethylmethyl phosphonite, a binary component for VX
VX (nerve agent)
VX, IUPAC name O-ethyl S-[2-ethyl] methylphosphonothioate, is an extremely toxic substance whose only application is in chemical warfare as a nerve agent. As a chemical weapon, it is classified as a weapon of mass destruction by the United Nations in UN Resolution 687...
was accomplished between April and October 2006.
The U.S. Army Non-Stockpile Chemical Materiel Project eliminated small quantities of various chemical weapons held by the U.S. including Nazi German Traktor rockets. This project used the "Explosive Destruction System" and was completed by April 2010.
External links
Arkansas°N date=December 2010°W