Birmingham News
May 15, 2003

Incinerator backup plan sought; Calhoun County Commission asks Army for alternative to destroy chemical weapons

05/15/03
DARRYAL RAY
News staff writer

ANNISTON The Calhoun County Commission has asked the Army for a backup plan to destroy chemical weapons in case an incident forces the new incinerator out of commission.

In a letter dated Monday and addressed to Claude Bolton Jr., assistant secretary of the Army, the commission asked for a plan identifying alternative options to dispose of the 2,254 tons of chemical nerve and mustard agents stockpiled at Anniston Army Depot. The plan also should include engineering and design plans for those options, along with state and federal permitting requirements, costs and a schedule.

Commissioners said in the letter that a backup plan is not a condition of their support for destroying the chemicals, but would help ensure the weapons were destroyed as quickly as possible.

Officials say the Anniston incinerator could begin destroying the chemical weapons as early as next month. But before that happens, the Army must give Congress 30 days' notice, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management must approve environmental permits and community safety issues must be addressed. Also, lawsuits that ask for injunctions to halt incineration are pending in Birmingham and Washington.

"Our object is not to delay the process of disposing the chemical weapons. It's really about making sure that we get rid of the chemical weapons as quickly as we can," said Commissioner Robert Downing.

He said he wanted an alternative because of problems at other incinerators. The letter states that the Army's incinerator at Tooele, Utah, was idled for more than six months in 2000, eight months in 2001, and three times within the past month. It cited scenarios that could shut down the incinerator for lengthy periods, including technical problems, agent releases and legal challenges.