INTRODUCTION 7
Chemical Stockpile Disposal Program, 7
M55 Rocket Processing, 7
Alternatives for Processing GB M55 Rockets at Anniston, 9
Statement of Task, 9
Organization of the Report, 10
2 M55 ROCKET STORAGE CONDITION ASSESSMENTS 11
Recent Assessments of Storage Conditions, 11
Agent Gelling in GB-Filled M55 Rockets, 12
Implications for Processing, 13
Stockpile Risk Considerations, 14
3 PROCESSING OF M55 ROCKETS AT JACADS AND TOCDF 15
Process Design for JACADS and TOCDF, 15
Loading, Transport, and Unpacking, 15
Rocket Handling System, 16
Agent Disposal, Decontamination of Metal Parts, and Destruction of
Energetics and Shipping Tubes. 17
GB M55 Rocket Disposal: Actual Versus Design Rate, 18
JACADS Rocket Disposa Operations During OVT, 18
TOCDF Rocket Disposal Operations, 19
Factors Affecting Operational Experience, 19
Coprocessing, 20
Process Changes from Lessons Learned, 21
Lessons from JACADS, 21
Lessons from TOCDF, 22
VX M55 Rocket Disposal at JACADS: Actual Versus Design Rate, 23
Comparison of GB and VX M55 Rocket Disposal Campaigns, 23
Stack Emissions, 23
Throughput Rates, 23
Safety Performance, 24
Environmental Performance, 24
Summary Observations on M55 Rocket Disposal Experience, 24
PROCESSING OF M55 ROCKETS AT ANCDF 26
Description of the Anniston Stockpile, 26
Public Concerns, 26
Original Disposal Plan for the Anniston Stockpile, 27
Modified Disposal Plan for the Anniston Stockpile, 27
Description of the Modified Plan, 27
Rationale for Implementing the Modified Plan, 29
Experimental and Modeling Results, 29
Critique of Modeling and Areas for Further Investigation, 30
Determining the Maximum Safe Operating Rate, 31
Schedule Implications, 31
Risk Implications of Accelerated Processing, 33
Public Risk, 33
Worker Risk, 34
Health and Environmental Risks, 35
Overall Risk to the Public, Workers, and the Environment, 35
Surrogate Trial Burn in the DFS, 35
Applicability of the Proposed Process for Anniston to Other Sites, 37
5 FNDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 38