Anniston Star
July 26, 2003

Army reviews Riley's request

By Sara Clemence
Star Staff Writer
07-26-2003

The Army is considering Gov. Bob Riley's request for the power to stop the Anniston chemical weapons incinerator, a military spokeswoman said Friday.

"Of course, we are in the process of reviewing the recommendations that were made early this week," said Cynthia Smith, a Pentagon spokeswoman.

The Army wants the governor to sign off on a plan to begin limited operations at its incinerator, built to destroy the 2,253 tons of aging chemical weapons stored at the Anniston Army Depot.

That plan would involve starting up the facility before some community safety measures are completed.

Riley had said earlier that he would likely make a decision on signing off on the proposed plan this week. Instead, he asked for the power to halt operations should something go wrong, or should the Army not live up to its promises.

Riley's press secretary, David Azbell, said Friday both sides are working on the memorandum of agreement, trying to "find language (the Army is) comfortable with that will also give the governor the authority he wants."

The Army also is awaiting a hazardous waste permit it must have from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management before it can begin operations. ADEM officials have said the permit is nearly complete.

The incinerator would begin destruction with M55 rockets filled with GB nerve agent. The depot also has VX nerve agent and mustard, a blister agent, stored in concrete bunkers.

The United States has chemical weapons stockpiled at eight sites around the country, including Anniston. As a signatory to the international Chemical Weapons Convention, the nation has agreed to destroy its stores by 2007.