What is the CWWG?

The Chemical Weapons Working Group (CWWG) is an international coalition of citizens living near chemical weapons storage sites in the United States, the Pacific and Russia who are most affected by the disposal of these munitions.

The CWWG mission is to oppose incineration of chemical weapons as an unsafe disposal method and to work with all appropriate decision-making bodies to ensure the safe disposal of these munitions and other chemical warfare and toxic material. As stated herein, the CWWG mission is based on a primary concern for the preservation and protection of the health and safety of all citizens and the environment in which they live.

In 1991, the Kentucky Environmental Foundation (KEF)--a grassroots organization opposed to incineration--organized the first '"Citizens' Summit" on chemical weapons disposal in Richmond, Kentucky, which brought together concerned citizens from all eight US chemical weapons stockpile sites, the Pacific, and Russia, to share concerns about safe disposal. And thus the foundation for the CWWG was laid. CWWG members determined at that time to work together toward the common goal of safe disposal of chemical weapons, using-non-incineration technologies. Concensus was reached at this first CWWG conference that transportaion of these weapons to another community was not an option. From a divided position of "not in my backyard," the gathered citizens moved to an inclusive, responsible and unified positon of "develop safe disposal technologies." All agreed that to win on this issue, citizens from all affected sites would continue to work together, sharing information and developing strategies

By CWWG member concensus in 1992, KEF was elected the lead organization of the CWWG and Craig Wiliams was elected national spokesperson.

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CWWG Members

Alabama

- Families Concerned About Nerve Gas Incineration: from Anniston Alabama, and the surrounding area, a broad section of community members from all walks of life and social strata, organized around this issue. Contact Rufus Kinney at (256) 435-4743.
- Serving Alabama's Future Environment (SAFE): independent organization of citizens in Anniston. SAFE has reached out to college and university students to distribute information about the dangers of incineration and benefits of safer disposal technologies. Contact David Christian at (256) 237-0338.
- Coosa River Basin Initiative (CRBI): Georgia-based watershed protection group that has filed suit to have Alabama CW incinerator permit declared invalid. Contact Joe Cook at (706) 232-2724.
- Alabama Chapter of the Sierra Club: a primary and invaluable environmental watchdog group in Alabama. In addition to grassroots organizing, this group has supported litigation to stop the Anniston chemical weapons incinerator. Contact Jim Price at (205) 933-9111.

Arkansas

- Pine Bluff for Safe Disposal: organized from its inception by members of its African American Community, the group has been successful at recruiting the support of other regional organizations into their struggle to stop the Army's incineration plan in Pine Bluff. Contact Evelyn Yates at (870) 535-0976.
- Women's Action for New Directions (WAND): Arkansas chapter of a nation-wide organization with the mission of empowering women to react politically to reduce violence and redirect military resources. Contact Jean Gordon at (501) 225-1323

Colorado

- Sangre de Cristo Group of the Rocky Mountain Sierra Club: a coalition that has active citizen involvement, including strong and solid support from elected officials. Contact Ross Vincent at (719) 561-3117.
- Citizens for Safe Weapons Disposal: consists of members from Pueblo, Colorado Springs and Denver with this issue as their main focus. Their leadership includes excellent gender and racial balance and has added an additional component to the already active Colorado CWWG membership. Contact Alan Urban at (719) 783-9755.

Indiana

- Citizens Against Incinerating at Newport (CAIN): a group made up of Newport area residentswho have been involved in the struggle for safe disposal for several years. Contact Sara Morgan at (765) 498-4472.
- Indiana Chemical Weapons Working Group:  Contact Leonard Akers at (765) 832-3384.
- Newport Study Group: the "grassroots veterans" of the movement for safe disposal in the Newport area. Contact Mark Hudson at (765) 569-5887.

Kentucky

- Common Ground: the grassroots group from which Kentucky Environmental Foundation (KEF) was formed. They have a 11-year history of working on this issue. They have held public meetings and forums in Kentucky and have earned the respect of legislators and citizens alike for their active role on this issue. Contact Dick Futrell at (859) 986-6636.
- Concerned Citizens of Madison County: have been involved with this issue for the past 14 years. They have been represented on the Community Study Team, have testified before Congress and have representatives on the Citizens Advisory Commission. Contact Kathy Flood at (606) 623-7429.

Maryland

- Coalition for Safe Disposal: located on Maryland's eastern shore, supported by 26 groups concerned with the quality of the Chesapeake Bay. CSD was very instrumental in the passage of the 1993 Defense Authorization Act which stopped funding at six out of nine sites. Contact John Nunn at (410) 778- 5968.
- Concerned Citizens For Maryland's Environment: is located on the Western Shore and has been opposing Army's plan since 1985. They have organized successfully around this issue. Contact Linda Koplovitz at (410) 838-5887.

Oregon

- GASP: GASP has joined forces with local community members, representatives of the state's Sierra Club and Greenpeace chapters, and other statewide organizations in pushing for alternatives to the proposed incinerator at the Umatilla Army Depot. Contact Karyn Jones at (541) 567-6579 or (509) 308-1295 (c).
- Oregon Sierra Club: local chapter of National Sierra Club, involved in Alt Tech Dialog. Along with GASP and Oregon Wildlife Federation, plaintiff in state suit challenging Oregon EQC's issuance of permit. Contact Bob Palzer at (541) 482-2492.
- Oregon Wildlife Federation: along with the above groups and about 22 individuals, is plaintiff in state suit challenging EQC's issuance of permit. Contact Paul Loney at (503) 234-2694.
- Oregon Clearinghouse for Pollution Reduction (ORCPR): Portland-based pollution control watchdog group that has been supportive of work toward safer alternatives. Contact Lisa Brenner at (503) 235-8085. Click here to visit ORCPR's web site.
- Oregon Public Interest Research Group (ORPIRG): as a state member of the national USPIRG, the Oregon PIRG advocates for the public interest by uncovering threats to public health and well-being and fights to end them, using investigative research, media exposes, grassroots organizing, advocacy and litigation. Contact Rhett Lawrence at (503) 231-4181.

Utah

- Utah Sierra Club: the primary environmental watchdog group in Utah. This group has raised the issue of chemical weapons incineration to a new level of awareness and concern in their state. Contact Cindy King at (801) 486-9848.
- HEAL Utah: In its mission to protect the public from the health risks involved with incinerating hazardous waste, FAIR is opposed to chemical weapons incineration and is working for the safe disposal of the Utah stockpile. Contact Vanessa Pierce at: vanessa@healutah.org; HEAL Utah 68 S. Main St., Suite 400, Salt Lake City, UT 84111; and (801) 364-5110. Click here to visit HEAL Utah's web site.

Pacific

- Pacific Asia Council of Indigenous Peoples (PACIP): In their work with the CWWG and Greenpeace, PACIP's central role has been to stop the perception that the Pacific Rim is an acceptable dumping ground for the United States (particularly the U.S. military). The "Council" is comprised of native peoples from throughout the Pacific and brings a significant global perspective to the CWWG. Contact Pua'Ena Burgess at (808) 696-5157.
- Pacific Friends Service Committee: regional branch of International Friends Service Committee well-known for working on peace and justice issues. Contact Isehong Asang at (808) 988-1124.

Russia

- Center for Assistance to Ecological Initiatives: This Saratov-based organization works to unite citizens living near chemical weapons stockpiles in the Volga region. Representatives from this organization have visited stockpile sites in the U.S., and have hosted organizers from U.S. CWWG member groups in Russia. Contact Olga Pitsunova at: volga@wildfield.ru.
- Union on Chemical Safety: a recently formed umbrella group for over twenty "greens" groups, mostly from the Volga River Region. Their Director, Dr. Lev Fedorov, is president of the Russian Anti-Dioxin League and has extensive experience in CW. Contact Vadim Petrov at: Petrov@ucs.udm.ru.
- Other Russian member groups: Chelovek i Prirodi; Ecoklub; Ecopress; Ecodefense; Ecologicheski Klub; Greenhome; Initiating Group for Safe Destruction of Chemical Weapons; Lawyers for the Environment; Social Ecological Union, Kurgan Chapter; and Viola.