for immediate release, March 3, 1997

TOP ARMY INCINERATION MANAGER CONFIRMS NERVE AGENT
LEAKS, EMERGENCY SHUTDOWNS AT TROUBLED TOOELE, UTAH
CHEMICAL WEAPONS FACILITY

The senior Army official responsible for oversight of the only chemical weapons
incinerator on the U.S. mainland admitted in Federal Court today that the plant had been
forced to shut down at least six times in its first half-year of operations because of serious
incidents, including nerve agent leaks. Testifying at a hearing on an environmental
challenge to the Tooele (Utah) Chemical Disposal Facility's permit, Tim Thomas confirmed
the details of the incidents which included:

• Agent Stack Alarms sounding on an average of once to twice a week. Thomas claimed these were not agent releases, but admitted the Army doesn't know what chemical is causing the alarms to go off;

• Agent defection in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning filter vestibules;

• A shutdown due to a complete power failure at the plant. Thomas said power losses occur once or twice each month;

• A leak of decontamination fluid through cracks in the concrete floor into an electrical control room. Thomas admitted that cracks continue to occur in the floors of the facility;

• A Liquid Incinerator Slag Removal system malfunction during a shakedown trial burn;

• Shutdown due to M55 Rocket parts jamming in the feed gates to the Deactivation Furnace, a problem Thomas said is continuing;

• Agent migration inside the observation corridors of the Munitions Disposal Building less than five weeks ago.

Thomas' testimony confirmed problems at the incinerator reported by Gary Millar, former
General Manager of the Tooele facility, who says he was fired for pressing safety
concerns. A 550-page deposition from Millar was introduced into evidence.

Based on Millar's revelations, Thomas' testimony and similar statements expected to be
introduced at the trial later this week, the Chemical Weapons Working Group, Sierra Club
and Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation are asking Federal Judge Tena Campbell to
issue an injunction, or stay, to stop work at the Tooele facility.

Bob Guild, one of the plaintiff groups' attorneys, explained, "These serious incidents,
including likely leaks into the environment, and significant new revelations about the
technology's risks from the highest plant officials and government managers make it clear
that the Tooele incinerator must be shut down to protect human health and the
environment."

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