Birmingham News
July 9, 2003

Army rejects bid for second disposal method at Anniston

ANNISTON, Ala. (AP) -- The Army turned down a request to use chemical
neutralization as a backup to burning Cold War-era nerve agents in an
east Alabama incinerator, disappointing some local officials who sought
an alternative for destroying the chemical weapons.

Calhoun County Commissioner Robert Downing said the decision represented
a "very stubborn, heels-dug-in mentality" by the military.

"Until we have a contingency plan, we will never have a 'Plan B' in case
there are insurmountable problems related to the incineration facility,"
said Downing, a critic of the Army's preparedness and incineration
plans.

The Army contends the incinerator located at the Anniston Army Depot is
safe and no backup is needed. It cost about $1 billion to construct.

The Pentagon notified Congress in June that it would be ready as early
as this month to begin burning the 2,253 tons of nerve and blister
agents stored at the depot in dirt-covered, concrete bunkers.

Mike Abrams, a spokesman for the incineration project, said officials
hope to begin destroying chemical weapons by the end of July.

Calhoun County commissioners had requested that the Army build a
facility that could chemically neutralize the weapons as a backup for
the incinerator. Such a contingency, commissioners said, would let the
Army continue destroying munitions if the incinerator were shut down.

Responding to the request, Col. Nancy Ray wrote that it would take about
five years to prepare a neutralization facility, and such a delay would
endanger the community by continued storage of the aging weapons.

Ray said a contingency plan was unnecessary and would not enhance
protection to people or the environment. The Anniston Star reported on
her decision Tuesday.

The Kentucky-based Chemical Weapons Working Group, which opposes the
incinerator, called the reasons for the denial "offensive," "arrogant"
and "false."

But Commissioner Eli Henderson said the Army has made significant safety
improvements to the incinerator.

"From what I've seen, I feel assured that if we have some problems,
they'll be of the nature where they're in-house and they can take care
of it," Henderson said.