Atlanta Journal-Constitution
March 2, 2003

Army chemical incineration plant will wait for Anniston

Associated Press
Sunday, March 2, 2003

Anniston, Ala. --- The Army will not begin destroying Cold War-era chemical weapons at the Anniston Army Depot incinerator until local officials say they are prepared for an emergency, says the head of a new Army department responsible for the disposal.

The move marks a significant shift in policy for the Army, which previously had resisted linking its timetable for burning 2,254 tons of chemical agents at its $1 billion incinerator with community preparedness.

Michael Parker, interim director of the newly formed Chemical Materials Agency, described the change in an interview with The Anniston Star. He also said the Army is working to meet four readiness benchmarks set by U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) in a January letter to the secretary of the Army.

Shelby's demands for the Army include:

> Over-pressurizing schools within a 12-mile radius of the incinerator --- something the Army had said would take two years but now says it can do by October.

> Taking responsibility for activating a siren system to warn of an incident at the depot.

> Funding additional protective measures for groups such as the elderly and disabled.

> Providing accurate, updated toxicity information about the chemical weapons stored at the depot.

A startup date hasn't been set, but Parker said he hopes the community can resolve remaining preparedness issues soon. Mike Burney, director of the Calhoun County Emergency Management Agency, said he hopes emergency measures can be in place by October.

Shelby, Gov. Bob Riley and others praised the emphasis Parker has placed on community preparedness but remained mindful of past frustrations.

''Challenges remain,'' Shelby said. ''But I am optimistic Mr. Parker's leadership will elevate the level of preparedness to where it needs to be so the Anniston destruction facility can begin to destroy these