A judge has rejected a lawsuit challenging state approval for the disposal of aging chemical weapons stockpiled in Eastern Oregon.

A coalition of environmental and public interest groups had gone to court over plans to incinerate Cold War-era mustard agent at the Umatilla Chemical Weapons Depot.

The groups questioned whether the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality was requiring the military to use the safest method for disposing of the agent, some of which contains mercury.

But military officials said the ruling Thursday by Multnomah County Circuit Judge Michael Marcus shows the best available technology is in place to ensure public safety and protect the environment.

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Under an international treaty, the United States has until 2012 to destroy all its chemical weapon stockpiles.

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Information from: The Oregonian, http://www.oregonlive.com