Burial Pit 3 Excavations Underway

Operating under tight safety restrictions, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers yesterday began excavating what it calls the "last known burial pit" of World War I chemical munitions in Northwest Washington's Spring Valley neighborhood. The Army expects to excavate at least fifteen 75mm artillery rounds -- a dozen or more with mustard gas and three with arsine, both toxic chemical agents -- buried in the affluent residential neighborhood that was once a site for developing and testing chemical weapons ... Washington Post (October 30, 2007: pg. B-1)

#1

Approaching two poisoned properties in Spring Valley from the south on Glenbrook Road:

"Arsine is a colorless, flammable gas which is highly toxic in certain concentrations. Although it has a garlic-like or fishy odor, odor is not an adequate indicator of arsine's presence. Because arsine is nonirritating and produces no immediate symptoms, persons exposed to hazardous levels may be unaware of its presence."
Neil Kerwin, President
American University
September 27, 2007

#2

Entrance to 4835 Glenbrook Road (the former residence of American University presidents).

#3

Space between the houses on Glenbrook Road. NOTE: a stairway to the soccer field of the American University campus is visible in the background.

#4

The abandoned house at 4825 Glenbrook Road. A temporary aluminum-plated structure, built to withstand the exposive force of an artillery shell as well as chemical releases, is on the right.

#5

Another view (from the north) of the $795,000 containment structure where workers will sift through unearthed materials buried by the Army at the end of World War I ninety years ago.

#6

View from in front of the South Korean ambassador's residence next door.