Lawsuit Initiated To Stop Proposed Burning Of Stored Mustard Gas Over Health Concerns

November 5, 2008 3:37 a.m. EST

Hermiston, OR (AHN) - A non-profit public-interest group has sued to block the planned incineration of tons of the toxic chemical World War II weapon mustard gas stored at the Umatilla Chemical Depot near Hermiston, Oregon.

The lawsuit seeks a judicial review of the decision to burn the mustard gas, citing disregard of evidence that burning the chemical to dispose of it could put cancer causing agents into the air. Some of the stored mustard gas is contaminated with mercury and other pollutants that opponents fear will be released into the environment during the proposed burn.

Mustard gas is a military blistering agent that hasn't been used in wartime for decades.

The Government Accountability Project sued to block the planned burning of tons of mustard gas on behalf of the Oregon Wildlife Federation, the Sierra Club and several residents of Umatilla and Morrow counties.