CALHOUN COUNTY
Calhoun County Commission takes stand against transfers
of chemical weapons
Brandy Warren
Star Staff Writer
February 25, 2005
The Calhoun County Commission is urging other local governments to join it
in a stand against transfers of chemical agents and munitions between stockpiles.
In a unanimous vote Thursday, the commission approved a resolution opposing
a defense department study of such transfers. The defense department has
said it is studying the possibility of moving materials from stockpiles in
Kentucky and Colorado to places where destruction facilities already exist,
instead of building destruction facilities there.
The resolution calls on other government entities to join in the stand, and
also calls on state legislatures to enact laws to prohibit moving chemical
munitions from other states into Alabama and to bar elected state officials
from entering into agreements with the Army that would allow such transfers.
Federal law already prohibits such transfers over state lines.
“I think this is extremely important for the commission to take this stand,”
Commissioner Robert Downing said.
For years, Downing said, county residents have been told that the chemical
weapons stockpiled at Anniston Army Depot were a “ticking time bomb” and
needed to be destroyed quickly. Residents also were told that it would be
too dangerous to move the weapons to another location, he said.
“Now (the Army is) doing an about-face,” Downing said.
Commissioner Eli Henderson agreed.
“I think it’s important at this time we make a statement that we don’t want
to bring in anymore chemical weapons,” Henderson said. “We did the right
thing by doing this today.”
In other business, the commission:
Awarded a $158,223 contract to Engineering Associates, Inc. for upgrades
to the 800 megahertz radio system in connection with the Chemical Stockpile
Emergency Preparedness Program.
Approved a $4.9 million CSEPP Grant Award Agreement for fiscal year 2005.
The grant covers operations, maintenance, procurement, and indirect expenses
for the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program. The money is provided
through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The next commission meeting will be 10 a.m. March 10 at the county administration
building.