Anniston Star
June 17, 2003

Incineration gets Riley's approval

By Amy Sieckmann
Star Capitol Correspondent
06-17-2003

MONTGOMERY

Gov. Bob Riley announced to two local politicians Monday that he will not seek further delay in starting the incineration of Anniston's chemical stockpile as long as a few final safety measures are met.

Riley's thumbs-up was given on two conditions: that the Army finishes improvements to its notification system, which should be done in 30 days, and that it gives extra help to special needs residents. Riley made his remarks during a meeting in his office with Sen. Del Marsh, R-Anniston, and Anniston Mayor Chip Howell.

Both of Riley's demands are already in the works and would not require additional federal money, Howell said.

The governor's announcement came the same day that the Calhoun County Commission received a reply letter from him answering its requests that certain safety measures be met before incineration begins.

In his reply, the governor commended the commission's efforts.

"We must move as quickly as possible to remove this threat from our communities, but not before all effort to protect the community have been addressed," he wrote.

County Commissioner Robert Downing took that to mean Riley supported the commission's demands that three key safety measures be met before the incinerator starts, two of which were the measures the governor mentioned in his meeting with Marsh and Howell.

Riley apparently did not echo the commission's concern that all schools on the Emergency Management Agency's list be over-pressurized before the burning begins. The governor could not be reached for comment Monday.

The governor did agree that the incinerator should not burn the gelled rockets during school hours until all schools in a 12-mile radius are over-pressurized, Marsh said.

Downing said he was not sure whether Riley's concerns were fully funded. The EMA could not be reached for comment Monday.

The governor's announcement marked his concurrence with a resolution signed recently by all of Calhoun County's mayors. The resolution touted the good work being done at the depot to prepare the community in the event of a chemical weapons accident at the depot's stockpile.

"We just wanted (and got) the governor's commitment that he is going to support (the incinerator)," Marsh said after the meeting. "What we were glad not to hear is talk of another type of (chemical weapons destruction) system.

Marsh said the governor wanted to make sure that the public would be safe.

Last week, the Army gave Congress the mandatory 30-day notice before it can start burning. That doesn't mean the incinerator will start within a month, however. The governor has the final say on its start-up, and based on his statements to local leaders, the start date now appears to rest on whenever his two final concerns are addressed.

Riley spoke to the Calhoun County Emergency Management Agency on the phone during Monday's meeting, Howell said. The governor confirmed that the Army will use the latest toxicity models to figure out who in the community is most at risk should a chemical weapons accident occur. Those models may change the area considered most at risk, known as the pink zone.

Howell said Riley was told in the meeting that the Army would have a new communication system up and running within 30 days to notify all the residents who live in the pink zone based on the new toxicity models.

The second condition Riley and others are standing by is demanding more help for special needs residents. Marsh said about 1,500 special needs residents have been identified in the area.

Officials are asking that those residents be divided into two groups: those that need a little extra information and training and those that need more help to prepare their house.

The Centech Group, the company distributing preparedness equipment, will provide at home tutorials to people. The Army Corps of Engineers will make improvements to homes.

Both Marsh and Howell commended the governor after the meeting and said they hoped his agreement would help move incineration along.

"I wish they weren't there," Howell said, referring to the chemical weapons. "We all wish they weren't there. But we are blessed that we have a governor that is not new on the block. His learning curve is already there," he said, raising his hand above his head.

Marsh added that he hopes the governor's statement reassures people and gets things moving.

It sends the federal government a message he said: "When the Army is ready to start, we are ready to start."