Anniston Star
June 22, 2003

Sierra Club meeting protests incinerator

By Sara Clemence
Star Staff Writer
06-22-2003

Sierra Club officials from chapters around the Southeast protested the chemical weapons incinerator at the Anniston Army Depot Saturday afternoon.

The rally was part of a regional Sierra Club meeting on environmental justice in Anniston. A few dozen local and visiting activists in the environmental group waved signs, beat drums and chanted outside the gates of the incinerator.

"Environmental justice!"

"Yes!"

"Incinerator!"

"No!"

The day began with emotional testimonies on PCBs and chemical weapons incineration. The Army has said that in July it intends to begin incinerating the 2,253 tons of nerve and blister agent stored at the depot.

Opponents said they are planning legal actions and civil disobedience to prevent incinerator operations here.

"We will be in court, God willing and the funds come through, before July 4 with a motion to the judge to stay the operations at this plant," said Craig Williams, director of the Chemical Weapons Working Group, an anti-incineration organization based in Kentucky.

Chemical Weapons Working Group, the Sierra Club, and several other organizations have filed lawsuits in an attempt to stop incineration.

They believe there are safer alternatives for disposing of the aging weapons, including a technology called neutralization, which has been selected at chemical weapons storage sites in Kentucky and Colorado.

"This program is a loser and the government knows it," said Rufus Kinney of Families Concerned About Nerve Gas Incineration.

Saturday's meeting was introduced by Joe Turnham, who ran for the 3rd District Congressional seat in 2003.