Defense Environment Alert
an exclusive biweekly report on defense
policies for cleanup, compliance and pollution prevention
Vol. 12, No. 7--April 6, 2004
ARMY SAYS RETEST SHOWS ANNISTON PCB EMISSIONS MEET EPA STANDARDS
The Army last week announced that recent test burns at its chemical weapons
incinerator in Anniston, AL, show the plant is meeting EPA requirements to
destroy polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) contained in M55 rocket shipping
and firing tubes. The Army submitted its data to EPA March 30, and at press
time, EPA was still evaluating the Army's data.
EPA required the plant to conduct new test burns after the incinerator failed
to meet a destruction standard of 99.9999 percent during November 2003 test
bums (Defense Environment Alert, March 9, p.).
"I am confident the EPA will find the latest test results conclusively demonstrate
that the [Anniston facility's] work force can safely operate the facility
and destroy chemical weapons while operating within the limitations and parameters
set" by the Toxic Substances Control Act, Timothy Garrett, Anniston site
project manager, said in a prepared statement. "We have achieved the destruction
removal efficiency, or DRE, mandated for PCBs."
Garrett said he believes EPA and other objective observers who review the
report will be convinced that the Anniston incinerator "is not only the practical
way to destroy the chemical weapons stored here, it is also a safe and environmentally
sound way for us to achieve our mission."