Oregon Public Broadcasting

Every couple of months the Umatilla Chemical Depot in northeast Oregon announces another milestone. Its mission is to destroy dangerous chemicals produced during World War II and the Cold War.

This week depot workers have finished dismantling small cannon shells filled with nerve agent.

Richland correspondent Anna King talked with the depot’s operation manager about what it’s like to be in charge of one of America’s most dangerous factories.

So what happens when the last of 4000 cannon shells filled with VX nerve agent are destroyed?

Kim Jackson: "Ummmm a little clapping, some high fives and a lot of handshakes on a job well done."

That’s Kim Jackson. She’s a mom of three pre-teens. But she’s also calm, collected and follows procedures. She has to. Jackson runs the Umatilla Chemical Depot plant control room. Think NASA’s Houston control. Yeah, she’s not one for the typical office job.

Kim Jackson: "It’s interesting to be on an airplane and someone asks you what you do. You talk about destroying chemical weapons. And their eyes get big. And then they say, 'What did you do before that?' Well, actually I processed nuclear waste. Their eyes get bigger."

Next on the list for Jackson’s demolition crew? VX land mines.

The depot is scheduled to finish incinerating Oregon’s total chemical stockpile by the fall of 2011.