For immediate release: July 22, 1996
FEDERAL JUDGE ALLOWS WHISTLEBLOWER TESTIMONY, ORDERS STATE OFFICIALS TO APPEAR AT UTAH CHEMICAL WEAPONS TRIAL
Salt Lake City (July 22)- During the first day of a hearing on a preliminary injunction to block the
start up the nation's first mainland chemical weapons incinerator, Federal District Court Judge Tina
Campbell repeatedly ruled in favor of the citizens groups suing the Army and their contractor
EG&G Defense Materials, Inc. The judge heard testimony from Former Chief of Safety Steve
Jones about safety problems at the facility after denying EG&G's motion to ban his testimony as
"beyond the scope of the hearing." Tomorrow, the Judge has ordered two state officials to present
live testimony regarding previously secret risk assessment documents.
The judge postponed a decision on motions made by EG&G to dismiss three environmental claims
brought by the plaintiffs Chemical Weapons Working Group, National Sierra Club, and Vietnam
Veterans of America Foundation. These claims include: violation of the Clean Water Act; failure to
attain a permit by EG&G; and a nuisance claim. The nuisance claim against EG&G alleges that
allowing the facility to burn agent will pose an unacceptable risk to the public.
Failure to obtain a permit could result in a fine against EG&G of up to $64 million dollars,
according to statements made in court today. In an unexpected developmentregarding previously
secret risk assessment documents recently discovered by the plaintiffs, the judge ordered that two
Utah Department of Environmental Quality Officials present live testimony tomorrow (July 23)
concerning these documents. These documents contain disturbing evidence of health risks that
would exceed federal standards.
GreenLaw attorney Mick Harrison, lead counsel for the citizens' groups said, "We're pleased to
have the opportunity to assist the court and the public in obtaining this new evidence regarding the
dangers of the Army's incineration program."
Craig Williams, Chemical Weapons Working Group Spokesperson, said, "As more evidence
comes forward it becomes clearer how dangerous and unacceptable these incinerators are."
President Clinton recently announced his support of passage of a Defense Authorization Bill that
would shift $60 million dollars from the Army's $12 billion dollar chemical weapons incineration
program towards development of alternative approaches. The Chemical Weapons Working
Group, an international coalition of citizens groups who live near the Army's nine chemical
weapons stockpile sites supports the aggressive development of safer technologies.
--30--
 CWWG Home Page |
Contact us: |