By Dianna Douglas
The Deseret Chemical Depot in Utah”s west desert has increased its security to the highest levels possible in light of Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, by direction of the depot”s headquarters in Maryland.
While there was no overt security threat to the depot, which stores the nation”s largest reserve of chemical nerve agent, all non-essential workers at the depot and the Tooele Chemical Agent Disposal Facility were sent home, according to a depot press release.
Deseret Chemical Depot representative Kathy Deweese explained, “Any stockpile of chemical weapons has to be watched in case of accidents, including acts of terrorism.”
All essential employees are on duty at the Deseret Chemical Depot and at the Chemical Agent Disposal Facility. While there is no overt security threat at the depot, the increased security was ordered as a precaution.
“In light of what”s happened today, it”s impossible to say who is in danger,” Deweese said.
The depot is located approximately 12 miles south of Tooele in Tooele County, and stores more than 40 percent of the nation”s chemical weapons.
