SAFE
Serving Alabama's Future Environment
P.O. Box 1463, Anniston, AL 36202
For immediate release: January 27, 1998
WESTINGHOUSE PLANT MANAGER, RICHARD HARRAL,
ADMITS IN TESTIMONY THAT HE CERTIFIED
THE ARMY'S INCINERATOR APPLICATION WITHOUT
FULL KNOWLEDGE OF ITS CONTENTS
Westinghouse Electric Co. Plant Manager, Richard Harral, testified at the Alabama Environmental Commission hearing today in Montgomery. He said that he only briefly discussed the Army's incinerator application with Army officials on the day he signed the certification for Westinghouse, the contractor on the project. He further admitted under oath that he has never read the health risk assessment or the contingency plan contained in those documents. These two portions of the application are supposed to demonstrate protection for human health and the safety of the over 70,000 people living near the proposed nerve gas incinerator in Anniston, Alabama.
"This shows a gross disregard for the health and safety of Alabama's citizens," claimed Rufus Kinney of Jacksonville. "Since Mr. Harral signed the certification without a full and detailed understanding of the requirement for health and safety, he lacks the knowledge to oversee the construction an operation of the facility. This is unbelievable! The permit should be revoked!"
"How can ADEM [Alabama Department of Environmental Management] permit a facility of this complexity and hazardous potential when the chief of Westinghouse plant manager does not have a complete understanding of the application?" asked Calhoun County resident Michael Marvinny.
In other important testimony, Dr. Brian Hughes, toxicologist with the Alabama State Health Department, said that he was responsible for reviewing public comments on the health risk assessment submitted to ADEM. He said that ADEM provided him with some of the comments but not the supporting material containing various recent scientific publications on the effects of exposure to low levels of nerve agent and the effect of exposure to dioxin.
"Doesn't the public's health matter at all?" asked Kinney. "Will Anniston become another example of Gulf War syndrome after we are exposed to low levels of nerve agent?"
"Why didn't the toxicologist read the most recent studies when making his analysis? What is the point of submitting public comments if no one is going to read them?" asked Alabama Sierra Club Chair, Peggie Griffin.
The ADEM hearing is the result of an appeal filed in July 1997 by Serving Alabama's Future Environment and Families Concerned About Nerve Gas Incineration against ADEM for issuing permits to build a $575 million incinerator at the Anniston Army Depot. The Army awarded Westinghouse the contract to construct and operate the facility. The hearings, which resumed on January 20, 1998 will continue until mid-February.
Contact: Rufus Kinney 205-435-4743
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