Pine Bluff, AR - The Pine Bluff Arsenal planned its first chemical weapons
drill for next Tuesday, but plans are underway today to get the word out
to the public.
There is a meeting going on at this hour while some residents who live nearby
question just how effective their methods have been.
As you can imagine, there is fear among many who live in Pine Bluff.. .mainly
fear of the unknown. Pamela Smith spoke with a family who wanted to remain
anonymous, and who says they still have a lot of questions.
Citing a possible backlash for her criticism, one White Hall resident didn't
want to appear on camera, but says she has not been satisfied with the way
the arsenal has been getting out the word about planned disposal of chemical
weapons.
(White Hall resident) "The agents that are being burned there -- we know
they are being burned, but what's gonna happen? The public is not being informed
like they should be."
The Army Chemical Materials Agency conducted a media briefing Wednesday afternoon
to better explain exactly what's proposed for the 3,800 tons of chemical
agent stored here for more than 60 years. It's 12 percent of the army's original
chemical stockpile.
(Greg Mahall, Chemical Material Age) "If you have some sort of natural disaster,
you've got the potential for agent migrating into the community. The risk
for storage numerical runs higher"
Arkansas is one of nine U.S. chemical stockpile sites all mandated to be
destroyed by 2012. Arkansas will begin with 2 M55 rockets filled with GB
nerve agent. The army says there are many provisions in place to do it safely.
But that possibility is exactly what this resident fears…especially with
elderly disabled parents.
(resident) "We live in a hot spot, so I won't be able to get back in to get
them. Are they going to come and evacuate them, or do I lose them?"
The public hearing is going on at the chemical materials agency on Sheridan
and White Hall until 7 Wednesday night. But if you can't make it here, they
are willing to come to your community. »
