Anniston Star November 19, 2002
Groups to challenge Alabama weapons incinerator

By Jay Reeves
Associated Press Writer
11-19-2002

BIRMINGHAM

A dozen environmental, civil rights and veteran groups are suing to block the opening of the $1 billion chemical weapons incinerator at Anniston Army Depot, a spokesman for the groups said Monday.

The organizations contend the aging Cold War-era munitions should be destroyed by chemical neutralization rather than incineration.

Destroying the nerve agents by chemical means would be cheaper, faster and safer than burning them, said Craig Williams of the Chemical Weapons Working Group Inc., one of the plaintiffs.

Anniston already is heavily polluted because of industrial discharges, he said, and burning tons of chemical weapons at Anniston Army Depot will endanger the population even more.

"To dump more stuff on top of these people is a slam dunk," said Williams.

The 23-page lawsuit is expected to be filed Tuesday following a news conference in Birmingham, said Williams. He declined to release details until then.

Incinerator spokesman Mike Abrams declined comment, but the Army contends incineration is a safe, effective way to destroy chemical munitions.

An attorney involved in the case said the organizations must prove only that the incinerator may pose a potential threat to the public to prevail under federal law.

"I think we can win," said Bart Slawson, who represents the Alabama Environmental Council, one of the groups filing suit.

Other plaintiffs include the national Sierra Club; the Anniston-based Families Concerned About Nerve Gas Incineration; the Calhoun County chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference; and Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation Inc.

Environmental groups have fought the incinerator for years, and civil rights activists oppose it because the incinerator is in an area that is home to many black, lower-income people. Veterans got involved out of concern they may be more susceptible than others to the effects of nerve gas because of previous exposure to other agents during combat.

More than 2,200 tons of chemical weapons are stored in earth-covered bunkers at the depot. The incinerator was supposed to open last month, but the date was pushed back until next year after the state complained that test burns were not done according to proper procedure.

The Bush administration agreed in July to the state's request for $5 million to buy gas mask-like hoods for some 35,000 people living near the incinerator.

The money was a sticking point in talks between federal officials and the state, where Gov. Don Siegelman filed a lawsuit to block the opening of the incinerator. That lawsuit has since been withdrawn, spokesman Mike Kanarick said.