Jacksonville News
June 12, 2003

Kinney discusses weapons neutralization as alternative

SCOTT EARP
06-12-2003

Rufus Kinney

Rufus Kinney, a member of the faculty at Jacksonville State University, spoke to members of the Kiwanis Club during their luncheon meeting on June 4.

Kinney, who holds a bachelor's degree from Washington and Lee University and a master's degree from the University of Montevallo, has a wealth of knowledge on Anniston's incineration project. With a track record for being a vocal proponent of alternative means with which to dispose of the outdated ordnances, Kinney has both lobbied and testified to the legislature about his expertise in the field.

"In the 11 years that I have opposed incineration and promoted an alternative measure," explained Kinney, "I have only been invited to speak to a church or civic group twice.

"All I ask is that no matter what you think about me or my politics you will at least keep an open mind and listen to the facts. So far, most people have only heard one side of the story; one set of so-called facts about incineration."

Kinney insisted he was determined to not allow his emotions to take hold during his presentation and provide only "irrefutable facts" about the benefits of an alternative to incinerating the weapons.

"What most people do not realize," explained Kinney, "is that we are not against destroying the weapons. We are in favor of destroying the weapons as soon as this can be safely done. The only thing we disagree on is the method they are planning to use to destroy them."

Kinney suggested that the two biggest areas of disagreement those supporting his efforts have with the Army include the technology that will be used to eliminate the weapons and the time frame for when this process should begin.

"They want to incinerate the weapons," noted Kinney, "while we want to neutralize them. Additionally, they are looking to begin the incineration process in the immediate future and we are asking them to at least wait until all safety measures are in place first."

Kinney produced documents and newspaper articles from both The Anniston Star and The Birmingham News that pointed to the fact that proponents of incineration were prepared to begin burning well before the agreed upon safety precautions have been followed.

"We are not talking about unreasonable safety measures here either," added Kinney. "We are talking about the over pressurization of all schools within the 12-mile danger zone. This would help protect our children should a leak occur, and it has not been done yet.

Another safety measure is waiting to begin only after the first responder equipment is in place; again, in case a leak occurs, so we can place someone on the scene to deal with the problem immediately. That has not been done yet either."

Kinney continued by pointing out that individual plans for the special needs population living within the mapped out danger zone have yet to be put in place. Also, he believes an update of the toxicity standards need to be assessed and applied.

"It has long been known," stated Kinney, "that nerve agents are much more toxic than the Army has been saying. Even the Army recognizes that, but they say they are not going to take that into account when assessing the needs of the community."

Kinney further explained that the old standards they are going by were assessed on fully protected combat troops in the field of battle, not on the average civilian living in a community within the danger zone.

"Finally," added Kinney, "just in the last month, the senate unanimously passed a requirement that monitors be placed around the entire facility, not just the smokestacks. These will help them better keep an eye out for potentially life-threatening leaks that may occur in areas other than the smokestacks.

"You guessed it, this has not been done yet either, but they are still moving forward with the start of the program. It is unconscionable for them to begin burning without these safety measures in place."

Countering the Army's continued claim that moving forward with incineration plans is much safer than continuing to store the munitions while these precautions can be made, Kinney pointed to an Army document that stated the stockpile would remain stable until the year 2043.

"We always hear how unstable it is out there," explained Kinney, "and how we do not know what will happen tomorrow or the next day. Their own research shows the weapons will be stable for the next four decades. The idea that somehow these things will go off like firecrackers next week is simply a scare tactic they have used for years.

"An Army manuscript states that there is less than a one in a million chance that there will be an auto ignition of an M55 rocket before 2043. What is the rush?"

Kinney admitted that his side was on the verge of losing their 11-year battle.

He noted that he did not believe it would be "humanly possible to stop the burning at this point." However, he questioned the value in not waiting a little while longer before all the safety standards and practices are in place before beginning the inevitable burning.

"If you start now," added Kinney, "the police and firefighters are not even trained to respond in the event of a disaster."

Making a last ditch bid for his alternative measure to incineration, Kinney noted how in the past six months both Kentucky and Colorado have chosen neutralization over incineration for their stockpiles.

"They both did so with the full blessing of the Army," added Kinney. "Both sites have the same kinds of weapons that we have in Anniston.

"You don't hear anyone over there screaming for maximum protection, because they have maximum protection in place. All the scare tactics in the world were not able to scare Colorado and Kentucky into incinerating their weapons, because they know where the real threat lies."

Kinney pointed out that the Anniston incinerator is one of the largest of its kind in the world. He explained that only two others rivaled it in size and scope; one located in a small desert community in Utah and the other in the middle of the ocean on Johnston Island.

"Ours is the only one in a heavily populated community," stated Kinney. "We have over 75,000 people at risk.'

Kinney continued by noting that the Johnston Island incinerator is only allowed to burn on days when the wind is blowing out to sea. The Anniston incinerator, however, will be burning 24-hours a day, seven-days a week.

"The smoke will be blowing right on top of us for years," added Kinney. The prevailing winds blow east or northeast most of the time, but puts them right over Anniston. I hate to have to tell you this, but those emissions are not going to just magically stop at Quintard Avenue. They will keep blowing right over Alexandria, Weaver, Jacksonville, Piedmont.

"Normal emissions will go 40 miles - all the way to Rome, Ga."

Kinney pointed out that, despite the thousands of citizens at risk in the event of a disaster, Westinghouse is only liable for $1 million.

"Ten thousand people could die," insisted Kinney, "and all they are liable for is $1 million. Now, how badly do you think they are taking care to look out for the community?"

Kinney suggested that anyone wondering about just how "safe" the burning of these munitions, which will occur day and night for the next 10 years or longer, will be only has to look at the Army's own documents and take note of the emissions blowing out of these stacks.

He asked everyone to go on-line and look up some of the many chemicals that will be pouring out of the stacks and decide for themselves how dangerous it will be. According to Kinney's research, among other things, the smokestacks will emit acetone, benzene, lead, mercury, arsenic, toluene, vinyl chloride, GB, HD/HT, VX, PCBs, and many more.

Kinney added that these chemicals were discovered in 1995, and he notes that a spokesman for the Program Manager for Chemical Demilitarization has stated that hundreds more chemicals have since been identified within the emissions. However, the list of additional chemicals has yet to be released to the public.

"Now," concluded Kinney, "go pick up your box of protective equipment. Open it up and pull out the duct tape, plastic sheeting and cheap scissors which is all we get to protect ourselves in the event of a major leak.

"How safe do you feel?"