Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

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The US Army applied for a renewal of its PCB Disposal Approval to burn stockpiled chemical agent rockets containing PCBs in two locations – Pine Bluff, Arkansas and Umatilla, Oregon.  This approval allows the Army to continue to operate its Chemical Agent M55 Rocket Incinerators, also known as “Deactivation Furnace System” or DFS incinerators.

Background Information
Chemical Agent Rockets contain PCBs in the container used for shipping as well as for firing the rockets.  In 1997 the United States ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention, which requires the United States to destroy all stockpiles of chemical agents and chemical agent weapons.  Chemical Agent Rockets (M55 Rockets) are among the chemical weapons that must be destroyed.  To justify the renewal of its current National PCB Disposal Approval, the Army provided information about the performance of the four DFS incinerators that exist nationwide to dispose of these chemical weapons.  EPA sought public comment on the proposed renewal of the National Disposal Approval by publishing a Federal Register Notice announcing the availability of this information.  On the same day, May 25, 2007, EPA posted an electronic notice seeking public comment and providing background information submitted by the Army.  The comment period ended June 11, 2007.  EPA received no comments on the proposed approval. EPA issued the renewed National Disposal Approval on July 5, 2007.

The Renewed National PCB Disposal Approval for the U.S. Army Chemical Agent M55 Rocket Incinerator (46 pp., 130K)

For more information contact Hiroshi Dodohara (dodahara.hiroshi@epa.gov) at 202-566-0507.