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Depot DeniesAn Army spokesman said Thursday reports that personnel at the Sierra Army Depot north of Reno mav have been careless in handling war cnemieais wuc “not completely accurate.11The report was contained m columnist Jack Anderson’s column in Thursday’s Nevada State Journal. The eoiumn said surplus chemicals from the wind-down of the Vietnam War were delivered at the Californiadepot, located 58 miles northwest of Reno.The eoiumn said:“Huge trucks brought in loadsor rpyT1parathion and a hazardous inventory of industrial solvents and other poisons.“The Army brought vast numbers of drums of surplus poisons home in huge steel boxes. By the time they reached the Sierra Depot, some containers were broken or leaking. DDT wasdoshing around in trucks and poisonous crystaline deposits were caked at the breaks.” The column said: “Although ibn rjenot located on norous sand which drains directly into I he water table, the Army washed some DDT from containers into the desert. Some solvents were also buried.” ‘Cease and Desist’ Anderson said federal environment officials intervened and subsequent orders were issuedto Sierra Depot personnel to “cease and desist.”He said the base commander, who was not available for comment Thursday “admittedthat small quantities of DDT and a solvent had been discharged into the soil. But he (the commander) denied that there was any large-scale pollution from the chemicals.” ‘Overstated’Lt. Col. James F, Blake, acting Sierra Depot commander,MishandlingChemicalssaid Thursday Anderson's comment on the DDT was an “overstated situation.“When a container springs a leak vour equipment will set dirty and you wash it. But me implication of vast quantity is not supported by fact.”Blake said: “There’s no case that I’m aware of where there’s been any kind of personal injury, of any sort,” concerning the chemicals. He added the chemicals have caused “nophysical damage that I’m aware of”Blake, reading a prepared statement, said: “Retrograde (returning, chemicals have and are being snipped to Vieira Army Depot from Southeast Asia“The chemicals are classified, segregated, stored and disposed of in accordance with instructions from the Environmental Hygiene Agency, Office of the Surgeon General.“The serviceable items are being returned to stock, and the unserviceable items are being placed in isolated storage.“The deoot keeos them in storage until tney receive disposition instructions from higher headquarters. None of the chemicals is being buried or otherwise disposed of except at the specific direction of the surgeon general’s office.”Blake would make no further comment.
Newspaper Details
Nevada State Journal
Reno, Nevada, US
Thu, Nov 16, 1972
Page 42
Full Page
Clipped by
Library O.
DC, USA 20 Dec 2021
Other Publications Near Reno, Nevada
Nevada State Journal
Reno Evening Gazette
Weekly Reno Gazette
Weekly Nevada State Journal
Reno Weekly Gazette and Stockman
