Editorials

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A worthy plan

In our opinion

08-29-2007

There's a tried-and-tested question that's bantered around newspaper offices each day: What's the local impact of a story?

The local impact -- why Calhoun Countians should care -- of last week's news from Anniston's incinerator is that no new munitions are coming to Anniston Army Depot. Our facility will continue to destroy our weapons. Nothing else.

Three cheers to that.

Nevertheless, the story does have merit and significance. The managers of Anniston's incinerator have agreed to install a new disassembly machine in an existing building and test it for future use at other U.S. facilities that destroy chemical weapons.

The machine uses advanced robotic technology to remove the explosive portions of the munitions, whereas Anniston's facility uses hydraulic machinery that requires time-consuming maintenance. The robotic machine does not handle munitions' chemical agent.

Expectations are that the machine, which uses a "servo" motor instead of hydraulics, will have fewer mechanical problems. Incinerator officials already are seeking the necessary permits from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management and the Department of Defense. The permits may arrive next summer, with operations possibly beginning in early 2009.

Again, why should residents care?

Since no additional munitions are being transported to Anniston, the machine will use some of our stockpile of mustard-agent weapons -- a positive, since they must be destroyed anyway.

It's also a plus that this testing will not affect our incinerator's operations; Anniston's normal procedures will not cease or slow to accommodate this testing. In effect, there will be simultaneous operations in the destruction of mustard-agent weapons when the testing commences.

Bottom line: A portion of Anniston's stockpile will be destroyed more quickly.

Critics of the incineration project, which there are many, may have a field day with Anniston's agreement to bring another mission to our facility. But Tim Garrett, the Anniston site manager, and others at the Anniston facility have given us no indication in years past that they would do anything but protect the safety and performance of our incinerator. The decision to test this machine in Anniston seems to be one made with diligence and common sense.