NBC13 News
August 1, 2003

Opening Of Army Incinerator Coincides With School; 24 Schools Without Air Filtration Systems

POSTED: 3:09 p.m. CDT August 1, 2003
UPDATED: 3:29 p.m. CDT August 1, 2003

ANNISTON, Ala. -- The Army plans to start destroying chemical weapons in east Alabama next week just as thousands of children who live in neighboring communities return to class.

The military contends the $1 billion incineration program at Anniston Army Depot is perfectly safe, and a spokesman said Friday the timing of the weapons' destruction with the beginning of school was a coincidence.

But activists who have spent years fighting the incinerator said it was wrong to begin destroying munitions while schools are still scrambling to install safety equipment.

The facility is the military's first chemical weapons incinerator located in a populated area.

The Army plans to begin conducting test burns of M-55 rockets loaded with GB nerve gas, or sarin, on Wednesday. Chemical Weapons Incinerator

Gov. Bob Riley said the burning can begin on the first day of school but with exceptions.

"Our agreement is they do not burn until all the schools have been overpressurized. During school hours, they do not burn chemical weapons," Riley said.

While 10 area schools have been equipped with special air filtration systems, Calhoun Superintendent Jacky Sparks said work at seven more campuses in the county is not scheduled to be finished until Oct. 1. In all, officials said more than 24 schools in the region have yet to be fully outfitted.