"Incinerator Retrofit/Stand-Alone
Neutralization Feasibility Assessment"
A study of the viability of destroying mustard agent using neutralization at incinerator sites

1995 Citizens' Solution for Safe Chemical Weapons Disposal
Updated April 2007

"Learning Not to Burn"
A citizens' primer on alternatives to burning hazardous waste

Greenpeace Report
Health hazards linked to waste incinerators

"Common Sense"--CWWG Newsletters:
February 2002
September 2001
August 2000
May 2000
July 1999
July 1998
April 1998
September 1997
April 1997

More Information:

Fact Sheet: Why Shipping VXH across State
Lines Is Illegal
Fact Sheet: Chronology of Army's Attempts to Ship VXH from Indiana to Commercial Treatment Facilities
Problems Inside the Army's Chem Demil Program
What's Wrong with Incineration?--Everything!
Are There Safe Alternative Solutions?--Yes
Legal Battles: Admissions about Emissions, et al.
Gulf War Illness: Coming Soon to a Community near You?
Environmental Justice
Children's Health and Incineration
CW Agent Toxicity and the impact of new info on Exposure Estimates: An Overview
Acronyms

CWWG Header

CWWG Press Releases
Indexed by Subject

Aberdeen, Maryland
ACWA Sites
Anniston, Alabama
Alternative Solutions
Environmental Justice
Gulf War Illnesses
Kalama Island
Legal Battles
Newport, Indiana
Non-stockpile Coalition
Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Problems inside Army's Chem-Demil Program
Pueblo, Colorado
Richmond, Kentucky
Tooele, Utah
Umatilla, Oregon
VX Hydrolysate Shipments
What's Wrong with Incineration
Whistleblowers
Who We Are

Aberdeen, Maryland

Feb. 9, 2006 Neutralization Facility Completes CWA Disposal in Maryland
Sept. 5, 2003 Technical Problems to Temporarily Halt Mustard Neutralization at Aberdeen
Jan. 10, 2002 Army Announces Accelerated Chem Agent Neutralization in Maryland
Oct. 31, 1996 Incineration Foes Endorse Alt Tech for Aberdeen Proving Ground

ACWA Sites--Pueblo, CO & Richmond, KY

Anniston, Alabama

Alternative Solutions

Nov. 26, 2000 EPA Report Identifies Broad Applications for Non-incineration Chem Weapons Disposal Technologies
Oct. 26, 1998 House Urges Cohen to Fully Fund ACWA
July 30, 1998 Three Alternatives Move to Demonstration Phase; Others Unable to Demonstrate Due to Suspect Claims of Money Shortage
July 2, 1998 Senate Authorizes $18 Million to Implement Alternatives
April 31, 1998 Pentagon Selects Six Technologies to Move to Next Phase in Alternatives Evaluation
Oct. 7, 1997 Seven Alternatives to CW Incineration Pass Initial Screen
June 10, 1997 First Dialogue Meeting on Alternatives
March 2, 1997 Gulf Vets In Favor of CWC Ratification
Feb. 27, 1997 Ford Assures Alternatives not Precluded
Feb. 7, 1997 Gulf Vets Oppose Incineration
Feb. 6, 1997 Breakthrough in Alt Tech
Dec. 11, 1996 Army Abandons Incineration at Two Sites
Sept. 18, 1996 Clinton Accelerates Alternatives Investigation
Dec. 21, 1995 Promising Alternative Announced
May 16, 1995 Research Validates Neutralization as Alternative

Environmental Justice

Sep. 29, 2007 Residents & Supporters Rally for EJ; Decry VX Waste Being Shipped to Port Arthur and Burned
Aug. 22, 2007 Groups Target Federal Legislators for Action on VXH Shipments
Aug. 3, 2007 Opponents of VX Waste Shipments "Disappointed in Judge's Ruling; Plan Immediate Motion for Reconsideration
July 17, 2007 Two Days of Testimony in VX Waste Shipments Hearing Affirm Citizens' Objections
July 16, 2007 Opponents Unpack Legal Challenge on courthouse Steps
June 19, 2007 Call With Judge Sets Timeline for Hearing, Halt to VX Waste Shipments Continues
June 18, 2007 Army Agrees to Temporarily Stop Shipment of VX Waste
May 8, 2007 Citizens File Suit to Stop Shipment of VX Waste across 8 States to Be Burned in Texas
Apr. 27, 2007 Citizens Give Notice to State and Federal Agencies of Intent to Sue over Shipment of VX Waste
Apr. 17, 2007 Letter to Indiana Depot Commander and Indiana Regulators Seeks Halt of VXH Shipments
Apr. 15, 2007 VX Waste to Be Shipped from Indiana to Texas in the Dead of Night
Apr. 10, 2007 Army Signs Contract to Burn Indiana VX By-Product in Texas
Sept. 27, 2006 National EJ Tour Brings Message of Pollution Solutions to Alabama
Sept. 22, 2006 Report: EPA IG Says Agency Has Not Complied with Required Environmental Justice Reviews
Sept. 10, 2002 National Justice Leaders Demand National Justice Leaders Demand Safe Disposal of Chem Weapons, Environmental Justice in Anniston, AL
Aug. 16, 2001 SCLC Unanimously Passes Resolution Opposing Incineration of Chem Weapons in Alabama
May 23, 2000 CWWG Opposes Burning PCBs in Chem Weapons Incinerators; Says Plan Violates Environmental Justice, Laws and Regulations
June 29, 1999 Pine Bluff Citizens File EJ Complaint
Dec. 18, 1997 CWWG, et al. file Environmental Justice Complaint in Alabama

Gulf War Illnesses

Sept. 24, 1998 Gulf Vets Renew Call for Halt to Incineration; Cite New Toxicity Data
Nov. 24, 1997 Gulf Vets Oppose CW Incineration
Jan. 11, 1997 Gulf Vets Warn of Exposure

Kalama Island, the Pacific

Legal Battles

Aug. 3, 2007 Opponents of VX Waste Shipments "Disappointed in Judge's Ruling; Plan Immediate Motion for Reconsideration
July 17, 2007 Two Days of Testimony in VX Waste Shipments Hearing Affirm Citizens' Objections
July 16, 2007 Opponents Unpack Legal Challenge on courthouse Steps
June 19, 2007 Call With Judge Sets Timeline for Hearing, Halt to VX Waste Shipments Continues
May 8, 2007 Citizens File Suit to Stop Shipment of VX Waste across 8 States to Be Burned in Texas
Apr. 27, 2007 Citizens Give Notice to State and Federal Agencies of Intent to Sue over Shipment of VX Waste
Apr. 18, 2007 OR Chem Weapons Incinerator May Not Be Allowed to Burn Mustard
Nov. 1, 2006 Federal Judge Rules in Favor of Citizens' Motion in NEPA Case on Chem Weapons Incineration
June 8, 1999 In Federal Court Senior Manager Admits to Agent Leaks, System Failures and Permit Violations at TOCDF
March 7, 1997 Testimony Reveals Cracks in Concrete Permeate TOCDF
March 6, 1997 Safety Coordinator Testifies that Rules at TOCDF Have Been Bent, Perhaps Broken
March 5, 1997 Inspectors Admit Agent Found in TOCDF Stack Gasses
March 3, 1997 Army Manager Confirms Agent Leaks, Emergency Shutdowns at TOCDF
Aug. 4, 1996 Closing Arguments Presented in Utah Federal Hearing
July 31, 1996 Public Health Expert Testifies to Unacceptable Health Risks from Utah Incinerator
July 30, 1996 Government Witnesses Contradict Each Other at Utah Hearing
July 26, 1996 Cover-ups and Misrepresentations Revealed at Utah Hearing
July 23, 1996 State Officials Admit Suppressing Evidence

Newport, Indiana

Sep. 29, 2007 Residents & Supporters Rally for EJ; Decry VX Waste Being Shipped to Port Arthur and Burned
Aug. 22, 2007 Groups Target Federal Legislators for Action on VXH Shipments
Aug. 3, 2007 Opponents of VX Waste Shipments "Disappointed in Judge's Ruling; Plan Immediate Motion for Reconsideration
July 17, 2007 Two Days of Testimony in VX Waste Shipments Hearing Affirm Citizens' Objections
July 16, 2007 Opponents Unpack Legal Challenge on courthouse Steps
June 19, 2007 Call With Judge Sets Timeline for Hearing, Halt to VX Waste Shipments Continues
June 18, 2007 Army Agrees to Temporarily Stop Shipment of VX Waste
May 8, 2007 Citizens File Suit to Stop Shipment of VX Waste across 8 States to Be Burned in Texas
Apr. 27, 2007 Citizens Give Notice to State and Federal Agencies of Intent to Sue over Shipment of VX Waste
Apr. 17, 2007 Letter to Indiana Depot Commander and Indiana Regulators Seeks Halt of VXH Shipments
Apr. 15, 2007 VX Waste to Be Shipped from Indiana to Texas in the Dead of Night
Apr. 10, 2007 Army Signs Contract to Burn Indiana VX By-Product in Texas
Jan. 26 , 2007 GAO Slams Army Cost Analysis on Proposed Nerve Agent By-Product Shipments From IN to NJ
Jan. 5, 2007 DuPont Backs Out of VX Hydrolysate Disposal Plan
July 27, 2006 Citizens Call for Moratorium on Nerve Agent Waste Treatment to Review Latest CDC/EPA Report
April 6, 2006 "Do Right, Keep It on Site," Say Groups from Six States
Oct. 24, 2005 Citizens Identify Factual Inaccuracies in Army's Response to Their Solution for Disposal of Indiana's VX Hydrolysate
Feb. 22, 1999 Non-incineration CW Disposal Contract Awarded in Indiana

Non-Stockpile Coalition

Pine Bluff, Arkansas

Nov. 21, 2000 Local Arkansas Group Says Incineration of "Non-stockpile" Chem Weapons Is Unacceptable
June 29, 1999 Pine Bluff Citizens File EJ Complaint
Feb. 16, 1999 Citizens File Appeal to CW Incinerator in AR
Jan. 26, 1999 Arkansas Citizens Vow Legal Challenge to CW Incineration Permit; Push for Alternative Disposal Plan
July 30, 1998 Arkansas Women Call for Study on Effects of CW Incineration on Children's Health
July 13, 1998 Citizens Petition to Extend Comment Period on CW Incinerator Permit in AR

Problems Inside the Army's Chem Demil Program

Oct. 18, 2006 Law Directs Pentagon to Deal with Ocean-Dumped Chem Weapons
June 26, 2006 Legislators Call for U.S. to Prioritize Chem Demil in 2007 Defense Authorization Act
April 12, 2006 Secretary Rumsfeld Says U.S. Won't Meet Chem Weapons Treaty Deadline Extension
Jan. 17, 2006 New Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Chem Demil Appointed
Aug. 17, 2005 Senior Defense Official Put on "Administrative Leave" Following Investigation by Army IG
Nov. 7, 2003 Congress Tells Army to Use Improved Agent Monitors at Chem Weapons Disposal Plants
Sept. 5, 2003 GAO Report: Chem Demil Program "Remains in Turmoil"
Feb. 20, 2003 Groups Call for On-Site Treatment of Chem Weapons Wastes
Feb. 19, 2003 U.S. Chem Weapons Storage & Disposal Get New Leadership
Jan. 17, 2003 Chem Demil Pulled from Army Environmental Office; Transferred Back to Army Acquisition, Logistics & Technology
July 2, 2002 Senators Urge Undersecretary of Defense Not to Allow Chem Weapons Disposal in KY and CO to Be Managed by Army's Incineration Office
May 9, 2002 Defense Secretary Rumsfeld Critical of Chem Weapons Disposal Program; FEMA Wants Out
Feb. 5, 2002 Bush Budget Request Calls Army's Chem Weapons Demil "Ineffective"; Cites Cost, Schedule, Managaement, Safety and Environmental Problems
Dec. 12, 2001 Secretaryof the Army Announces Major Shake-up of Chem Weapons Disposal Program
June 7, 2001 Army Audit Agency Blasts Incineration Program: Managers Ignored Cost, Schedule and Environmental Compliance Rules in 1000s of Incinerator Design Changes
May 14, 2001 Congressional Research Service Upholds CWWG Senate Testimony on Incineration Schedules; Exposes Army Decption
May 9, 2001 Sen. McConnell Calls for Restructuring of Chem Weapons Disposal Agency; Asks Secy. of Defense to Work with Congress to Achieve Needed Changes
Oct. 15, 1999 Top-Gun of Army's Chem Demil Program Resigns; Activists Hail His Departure
July 30, 1999 Pentagon Investigation of Disposal Program Identifies Money for Testing All Six Technologies
July 19, 1999 Senators Call for GAO Investigation of CSDP
June 18, 1999 CWWG Calls for Resignation of Prociv for Lying about Available Funds

Pueblo, Colorado

Richmond, Kentucky

Tooele, Utah

Umatilla, Oregon

Apr. 18, 2007 OR Chem Weapons Incinerator May Not Be Allowed to Burn Mustard
Aug. 4, 2004 Incineration Opponents Seek: Input on Whistleblower Permit Changes; Additional "Findings" by Oregon EQC; and No Burn until after Appeals Court Ruling
July 26, 2004 OR Judge Sends Incineration Permit Back to State Agency to Protect Workers' Right to Raise Safety Concerns
Aug. 14, 2001 In OR Incinerator Case, Did Army Lawyer's "Threats of Reprisals" Influence Employee's Testimony?
Oct. 23, 2002 OR Chem Weapons Incinerator Shut Down Due to Safety Problems
Oct. 19, 2001 Judge Agrees to Hear Citizens' Evidence Challenging Army's Oregon Chem Weapons Incinerator Permit
July 30, 2000 Worker Exposure Lawsuit at Oregon Chem Weapons Incinerator Reveals Recklessness of Army's "Rush to Burn"
July 26, 2000 Oregon Senators Join In Call for GAO Review of Emergency Preparedness around Chemical Weapons Disposal Sites
Nov. 22, 1999 Oregon Citizens Argue for Incinerator Permit Revocation; Raise Questions About September 15th Worker Exposure Incident
Dec. 11, 1998 Oregon Ruling Called a Victory by Incineration Opponents
Aug. 21, 1998 Oregon Citizens Challenge Incinerator Permit
April 15, 1997 Citizens File for Reconsideration of Incineration Permit
Feb. 16, 1996 Confederated Tribes Call for Moratorium on Incineration

VX Hydrolysate Shipments

Sep. 29, 2007 Residents & Supporters Rally for EJ; Decry VX Waste Being Shipped to Port Arthur and Burned
Aug. 22, 2007 Groups Target Federal Legislators for Action on VXH Shipments
Aug. 3, 2007 Opponents of VX Waste Shipments "Disappointed in Judge's Ruling; Plan Immediate Motion for Reconsideration
July 17, 2007 Two Days of Testimony in VX Waste Shipments Hearing Affirm Citizens' Objections
July 16, 2007 Opponents Unpack Legal Challenge on courthouse Steps
June 19, 2007 Call With Judge Sets Timeline for Hearing, Halt to VX Waste Shipments Continues
June 18, 2007 Army Agrees to Temporarily Stop Shipment of VX Waste
May 8, 2007 Citizens File Suit to Stop Shipment of VX Waste across 8 States to Be Burned in Texas
Apr. 27, 2007 Citizens Give Notice to State and Federal Agencies of Intent to Sue over Shipment of VX Waste
Apr. 17, 2007 Letter to Indiana Depot Commander and Indiana Regulators Seeks Halt of VXH Shipments
Apr. 15, 2007 VX Waste to Be Shipped from Indiana to Texas in the Dead of Night
Apr. 10, 2007 Army Signs Contract to Burn Indiana VX By-Product in Texas
Jan. 26 , 2007 GAO Slams Army Cost Analysis on Proposed Nerve Agent By-Product Shipments From IN to NJ
Jan. 5, 2007 DuPont Backs Out of VX Hydrolysate Disposal Plan
Jan. 4, 2007 DuPont May Pull Out of VX Hydrolysate Treatment Plan
July 27, 2006 Citizens Call for Moratorium on Nerve Agent Waste Treatment to Review Latest CDC/EPA Report
April 6, 2006 "Do Right, Keep It on Site," Say Groups from Six States

What's Wrong with Incineration

July 11, 2006 National Academies New Study Concludes Dioxin is Toxic
May 11, 2006 Internal Defense Documents Show Chem Weapons Incinerators Will Burn for an Additional 9-11 Years
Feb. 20, 2006 Modifications to Chemical Weapons Incinerator May Mean More Mercury Exposure for Utah
July 18, 2003 United Church of Christ Unanimously Passes Resolution to Halt Incineration, Use Safer Technologies to Destroy US Chem Weapons
July 14, 2003 Global Protests, New Data Against Incineration Signal Death Knell for Dangerous Technology
May 05, 2003 Army's Utah Chem Weapons Burner Shuts Down - Again: 3rd Time in 38 Days
Mar. 11, 2003 Federal Lawsuit Seeks Halt to U.S. Chem Weapons Incineration Program
Sept. 25, 2002 New GAIA Report Documents World Bank Funding of Incineration in Many Countries
July 16, 2002 Workers Exposed to Nerve Agent at Army's Utah Incinerator
May 9, 2002 Defense Secretary Rumsfeld Critical of Chem Weapons Disposal Program; FEMA Wants Out
May 2, 2002 Utah Whistleblower Reveals Employees Face Unnecessary Exposures to Lethal Chemical Agents at Army Incinerator
Nov. 19, 2001 Pres. Bush/Congress Receive Citizens' Call for Immediate Action to Eliminate Chem Weapons Threat by Neutralizing Agent
Nov. 12, 2001 Citizens Call on President Bush, Congress to Take Immediate Action onChem Weapons Threat
Oct. 1, 2001 Internal Documents Show Dramatic Cost Increases and Schedule Slippage for Army's Chem Weapons Incineration Program
May 14, 2001 Congressional Research Service Upholds CWWG Senate Testimony on Incineration Schedules; Exposes Army Decption
April 25, 2001 Secret Army Document Reveals Chem Weapons Incineration Program Cannot Meet Treaty Deadlines
April 3, 2001 New Report Shows Chemical Industry's Influence to Gut Environmental Regulations; Dioxin Could be Next on the Chopping Block
Dec. 17, 2000 Army & Its Contractors "Rig" Monitors to Avoid Confirmed Chemical Agent Readings
June 29, 2000 EG&G Report on Nerve Gas Releases Shows Army Has Covered-Up Major Flaws and Has Used Shell Game to Avoid Fixing Problems
June 13, 2000 CWWG Joins 178 Groups Calling on Clinton-Gore Administration to Adopt a Dioxin-Free Diet for Polluters
May 19, 2000 Did Army Negligence Cause Nerve Agent Release? Documents Show Repeat Warnings of Incinerator Design Flaws Which Led to Release Ignored by Army in Their "Rush to Burn"
May 11, 2000 Nerve Agent Released from Utah Incinerator Stack; CWWG Says Army Knew of Problems that Led to Release and Army Self-Investigation Is Unacceptable
Oct. 21, 1999 Army Reports Stockpile Is Stable; Key Argument for Incineration Is Undermined
Jan. 13, 1999 Inspector General's Report Slams Army for Y2K Non-Compliance in CW Incineration Program's Safety Systems
Dec. 15, 1998 TOCDF Liquid Incinerator Shut Down After 140-Gallon Spill
Dec. 10, 1998 Expert Panel Slams Army CW Disposal Program
Nov. 13, 1998 Russians Blast CW Incineration; Expert Calls it "Outdated" and "Appalling"
Oct. 16, 1998 TOCDF Incinerator Produces 15 Times More Haz Waste than Agent Burned
Sept. 28, 1998 Army Audit Reveals Incineration Program Will Not Meet Treaty Deadline
Sept. 25, 1998 According to New GAO Report, DoD Lacks Strategy and Research Program for Low-Level CWA Exposures
Sept. 15, 1998 New Toxicity Data Voids Incinerator Safety Claims
Feb. 24, 1997 Report Concludes Stockpile Is Safe until 2013
July 29, 1996 Army Misleads Congress and Communities

Whistleblowers

August 13, 2002 Utah Whistleblower Gets $1.5 Million in Court Ruling; Army Blasted for Conspiracy Against Worker
May 2, 2002 Utah Whistleblower Reveals Employees Face Unnecessary Exposures to Lethal Chemical Agents at Army Incinerator
April 13, 2000 Handwriting Analysis, Phone Bills and FedEx Receipts Confirm Documents Sent by TOCDF's Chief Safety Officer; CWWG Demands Inquiry into Army Cover-Up of Accidents, Risks
Mar. 22, 2000 Safety Head's Memos, Secret Documents Show Utah Incinerator Continues to Endanger Workers, the Public and the Environment
Feb. 7, 2000 CWWG Urges DoD Inspector General to Investigate Harris Allegations; Doesn't Want PMCD to Investigate Itself
Jan. 11, 2000 Ex-Tooele Permit Head Says Army Engaged in Fraud and Hid Environmental Violations to Gain Utah Incinerator Permit
May 2, 1999 Whistleblower Jones Does Indeed Return to TOCDF
Mar. 31, 1999 Whistleblower Jones to Return to Utah CW Incinerator Facility
Jan. 6, 1999 Whistleblower Jones Wins Second EG&G Appeal: Dol Orders His Reinstatement Again
Oct. 2, 1998 Whistleblower Jones Wins EG&G's Appeal
Jan. 28, 1998 Federal Judge Orders Incinerator Contractor to Cease Retaliation against Whistleblowers
Sept. 9, 1997 Whistleblower Allen Gains Victory
Aug. 5, 1997 Whistleblower Jones is Vindicated
June 25, 1997 New TOCDF Whistleblower Charges Coercion
Nov. 27, 1996 Fired Safety Manager Says Safety Risks Are Unacceptable
May 30, 1996 Possible Witness Tampering in Whistleblower Case
May 24, 1996 Allegations of Criminal Activity Surface
March 27, 1996 Safety Dangers Still Exist
March 26, 1996 Fired Safety Manager Testifies
March 25, 1996 Whistleblower Trial Begins
Jan. 8, 1996 Third Whistleblower Claims He Was Fired for Raising Safety Issues
Dec. 13, 1995 Whistleblower to Receive Award
June 20, 1995 Whistleblower Seeks to Name Army as Defendant
Nov. 14,1994 Army Denies Access to Report

Who We Are

Apr. 30, 2007 CWWG Releases Recommendations for Safe Chem Weapons Disposal
Oct. 2, 2006 CWWG Director to Speak at Harvard's JFK School of Government
Aug. 31, 2006 CWWG Releases Report on Feasibility of Destroying Nation's Store of Mustard Agent Through Neutralization
Apr. 24, 2006 CWWG Director Wins Goldman Environmental Prize
Jan. 27 , 2006 KEF Director and US Senator Honored with Award for Work on Safe Weapons Disposal at Blue Grass Depot
Sept. 20, 2005 The CWWG and Craig Williams Officially Honored by U.S. Senate
Sept. 7, 2005 Citizen Letter to BRAC Commission: No Future Use of Chem Weapons Incinerators
Sept. 1, 2005 Citizen Groups Advocate Transporting Technology, Not Waste, to Treat Chem Weapons Disposal Byproducts
April 20, 2003 Protection from WMDs Begins at Home: CWWG Calls for Advanced Monitoring Systems at US Stockpile Sites
Dec. 9, 2003 CWWG Director Williams to Receive National Award
Apr. 6, 1998 Downwinders Demand Congress End Incineration, Fund Safe Alternatives
Oct. 7, 1997 CWWG Wins Environmental Award