Greenwire
Wednesday, March 12, 2003

CHEMICAL WEAPONS: Groups sue Army over incineration

A coalition of 21 activist groups sued the Army in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., yesterday for failing to consider alternative ways of destroying chemical weapons without using incineration.

The coalition, led by the Chemical Weapons Working Group, said the Army violated the National Environmental Policy Act by not considering less dangerous methods of disposing chemical weapons, such as neutralization, which involves mixing the chemical agents with sodium-based compounds. The Army said incineration remains the most proven way to destroy chemical weapons (Brent Israelson,<http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Mar/03122003/utah/37497.asp>Salt Lake Tribune, March 12).

The lawsuit seeks an injunction against further incineration anywhere in the country and requests a comprehensive comparison between incineration and other neutralization methods (Jason Landers, <http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2003/as-nation-0312-jlanders-3c11x3513.htm>Anniston Star [subscription required], March 12).

The Army plans to use neutralization to destroy bulk weapons in Colorado, Kentucky, Indiana and Maryland. But chemicals contained mostly in individual weapons in Oregon, Alabama, Arkansas and Utah stockpiles are best destroyed by incineration, said Army spokesman Greg Mahall (William McCall, AP/<http://www.adn.com/24hour/nation/story/803176p-5720754c.html>Anchorage Daily News, March 11). -- LM