Sierra Club weighs in on Anniston incinerator

By Nathan Solheim
Assistant Metro Editor
02-26-2004

Two chemical weapons workers in Aberdeen, Md., were cut out of their protective suits Wednesday after the suits were contaminated with a cleaning solution containing trace amounts of mustard agent. Also Wednesday, a national environmental group – The Sierra Club – announced its call for the Army to shut down the Anniston Chemical Agent Disposal Facility and install new agent monitors. Each action has a connection to the Army’s pursuit to destroy tons of Cold War-era chemical weapons at Anniston Army Depot, where workers have burned more than 18,000 M-55 rockets filled with deadly GB nerve agent, or sarin, since Aug. 9. Army officials said Wednesday neither of the Aberdeen workers were injured or exposed to agent. The workers were cut out of their protective suits – which cover the body entirely – in a procedure called a “hot cut-out.” Two workers at the Anniston incinerator went through a “hot cut-out” Feb.4 after an agent alarm detected trace amounts of chemical vapor in a room thought unlikely to contain agent. In both cases, workers were checked by the facilities’ medical staffs and cleared to return to work the same day. Aberdeen officials said the event was not an emergency, but several chemical agent alarms did sound. Also, some workers at Aberdeen had to be relocated. “Once you get agent on your protective suit, you have the decontamination process, and they’re showered brushed and cleaned, and then they cut the suit off,” said Jeff Lindblad, a spokesman for the Aberdeen Chemical Agent Disposal Facility. “This wasn’t an emergency, but you want make sure they get to the medical module as soon as possible.” The workers got cleaning solution, which had mixed with trace amounts of mustard, on their suits, Lindblad said. Mustard agent was designed to incapacitate troops, but large amounts are lethal. Aberdeen has been destroying chemical agent using a neutralization process since April 2003. Anniston uses an incinerator, which has drawn the ire of environmental groups such as The Sierra Club since it was chosen as the means of destruction here. Wednesday’s announcement was the first time The Sierra Club has taken a stance on the incinerator. Local affiliates had raised their objections, however, and last week, about 20 grassroots and local environmental groups called on the Army to stop the incinerator. The national organization asked the Army to stop incineration until what it considers to be better air monitors can be put in place. The action cites the incinerator’s proximity to a population base as its chief reason for the request for monitors other than the ones the Army already has in place. “The Army is putting the residents of Anniston at risk by burning chemical weapons in an urban area,” said Larry Fahn, The Sierra Club’s board president. “What’s worse is that they’re not using the most up-to-date technology to protect people and their families.” Local incinerator officials had not heard of the club’s action and couldn’t comment on the issue. In the past, however, local incinerator officials have defended the facility’s air monitors. “If a better box is available, we would look into it,” Tim Garrett, the Army site manager, has said.

About Nathan Solheim

Assistant Metro Editor Nathan Solheim is Minnesota native and a University of Georgia graduate.