Birmingham News
June 6, 2003

Army tells plan for burning weapons

06/06/03
KATHERINE BOUMA
News staff writer

The Army notified Congress Thursday that it intends to begin burning weapons at the Anniston Army Depot in 30 days, in spite of outstanding safety questions.

Observers from grassroots incinerator opponents to Sen. Richard Shelby expressed concern at the announcement in the midst of discussions about such issues as emergency preparations for the disabled and the schools.

However, Army officials said they made the announcement only to fulfill their legal obligation to notify Congress, not because they plan to begin chopping and burning rockets in exactly one month.

"We won't be doing anything in 30 days or thereabouts without taking into consideration everything Sen. Shelby and everyone else has been talking about," said Army spokesman Mike Abrams.

The Republican senior senator from Alabama issued a statement Thursday saying he would not endorse any agreement to begin destroying Cold War-era chemical weapons in Anniston until all the safety measures identified to protect nearby residents are in place.

"I am very concerned about safety loopholes that exist," Shelby said in his statement.

In January, Shelby told the Army he would oppose incineration at Anniston until four safety conditions were met: protecting neighboring schools, planning assistance for high-need or disabled residents, equipping the Army to activate warning sirens without calling the counties first, and updating the emergency response plan.

Calhoun County Commissioner Eli Henderson said he also wants the Anniston Fire Department to have a hazardous materials truck and trained employees in case of an emergency.

Gov. Bob Riley's office also issued a statement opposing the immediate startup of the incinerator.

"There are a couple of issues that have yet to be resolved to Gov. Riley's satisfaction, and until then, his administration cannot, and will not, allow the incinerator to begin operations," his spokesman said in a statement late Thursday.

According to a spokesman, Riley will refuse to sign a proposed memorandum of agreement to allow the Army to go forward without completing the safety measures. "However, Gov. Riley knows that the government has the resources and ability to meet and surpass every single safety concern, and he remains confident that the government will do so in a prudent and timely manner," Pepper Bryars wrote.

The Army has said that the governor's permission was not needed for the burn, but Bryars said Riley would block the Alabama Department of Environmental Management from issuing a final permit until he approves of the emergency preparations.

Riley's predecessor, Don Siegelman, stalled the incinerator by filing suit against it and wrote ADEM asking that no permit be issued.

The state agency has not issued a final permit to the Army, which has requested permission to modify its permit in several ways, including burning rockets that have not been drained of chemical agent. The director of the land division at ADEM said Thursday that his people are reviewing the mountains of paperwork involved in approving the incinerator.

The $1 billion incinerator was built to destroy 661,529 artillery, rockets and mines now stored in earthen bunkers at Anniston Army Depot. Since its construction, other sites around the country have turned to a neutralization process advocated by incinerator foes. A lawsuit filed by opponents is pending.