Anniston Star
July 25, 2003

Riley seeks authority to stop incineration for cause

By Sara Clemence
Star Staff Writer
07-25-2003

Before Alabama's governor approves the startup of the Anniston chemical weapons incinerator, he wants to have the power to shut it down.

Gov. Bob Riley requested this week that an agreement with the Army enable him to halt operations at the facility should something go wrong or should the Army back out of its promises.

"If the Army does not live up to commitments it makes, or if something should happen that creates the need, the governor should have the ability to stop incineration," David Azbell, Riley's press secretary, said Thursday night. "It's in the best interests of not only the people who live near and around the incinerator; it's in the best interests of all Alabamians."

The new condition is the reason Riley did not make a decision on the incinerator this week, as he said he probably would. With state and Army attorneys in negotiations, the starting date for the incinerator is again up in the air.

The Army built the controversial incinerator to destroy the 2,253 tons of deteriorating chemical weapons stored at the Anniston Army Depot. It has long maintained that the stockpile, which includes nerve and blister agent, presents a danger to the community, while the incinerator is safe.

The Army asked Riley in May to approve a plan for destroying M55 rockets filled with deadly GB nerve agent before certain community safety preparations are in place.

The plan would involve working with certain restrictions. For example, the Army would not burn nerve agent during school hours until the schools have extensive protection equipment installed.

Legally, the Army does not need Riley's go-ahead to begin operations, but it does need a state hazardous-waste permit, which environmental regulators last week said was nearly ready.

The permit could be revoked if violated. But Azbell said the permit does not address school protection or the promise that disabled and elderly residents will have what they need to be safe in case of an accident at the depot.

"Governor Riley has been dealing with this issue for six years," Azbell said. While relations with Les Brownlee, acting secretary of the Army, have been good, interactions with the Army have had "peaks and valleys," Azbell said.

The Army has chemical weapons stockpiled at eight sites around the U.S., including Anniston. By signing an international weapons treaty, the U.S. has agreed to destroy its stockpile by 2007.

"We're very optimistic that something can be worked out," Azbell said of Riley's new request. "Certainly if the Army intends to follow upon its commitments, this shouldn't be too much to ask."