for more information contact:
Craig Williams (859) 986 -7565
Brenda Lindell (256) 236 - 1496
Rufus Kinny (256)- 435-4743
for immediate release: Friday, February 1, 2002
Today the Governor of Alabama, Don Siegelman announced his
intention to initiate legal actions to block the startup of incineration
of chemical weapons in his state because, "the federal government
has failed to provide the maximum protection necessary for the
citizens of Calhoun County, and as governor, I will not stand
for it."
Shortly thereafter, the Calhoun County Commission issued a statement
fully supporting the Governor's actions. The Army's chemical weapons
incinerator is on the Anniston Army Depot, located in Calhoun
County, Alabama.
Citing the reneging on promises made by the Department of Defense,
Department of the Army and the Federal Emergency Management Agency
to fund community preparedness capabilities, the Governor also
committed to "become personally involved in the permitting
process until safety concerns are addressed."
"This is a major step in exposing the Army's incineration
program for the shell game it is," said Craig Williams, director
of the Chemical Weapons Working Group(CWWG), a coalition of citizens
groups who oppose incineration of these cold war weapons. "When
the Governor follows up on his promise to become involved firsthand
in the permitting process he will quickly learn what others have
known for a long time - that the Army has cut every corner, twisted
every arm and told every tale to get the permit to burn this stuff.
They've broken numerous laws and regulations as well - and it
looks like the 'bodies' will soon be showing up."
According to Brenda Lindell, an Alabama CWWG coalition member
and a leader of Families Concerned About Incinerating Nerve Gas,
"Although we lost our first legal challenge to the permit
in Alabama, there are more legal actions being developed right
now. We hope the Governor will consider this evidence as he develops
his own legal strategy and engages in hands-on oversight of this
program."
Concerning the Governor's plan to sue the federal government,
the Calhoun County Commission's statement said "...the Army
and FEMA's refusal to fund and implement all of the items on our
safety checklist, as well as all of the items on the Governor's
safety checklist, leaves Governor Siegelman with no other choice.
"
According to Williams there is an effort underway inside the Army's
incineration program and in certain quarters on Capital Hill to
try to repeal the "maximum protection" standards currently
mandated by Congress and replace it with "adequate protection"
language. According to Army and FEMA statements made in meetings
in Alabama and other sites, this would allow citizens to be exposed
to these deadly materials and still be considered "protected"
as long as no one dies. Recent studies, many from the investigations
surrounding Gulf War Illness, have shown extremely low levels
of these agents can cause long term health problems including
neurological damage and behavior disorders.
"After a history of agent releases at their remote incinerators
it has become clear that this technology cannot control these
very toxic substances," said Williams. "So rather than
switch to a more controlled destruction process and in an effort
to protect their incineration choice of 20 years ago, the Army
would rather lower the protection afforded American citizens -
this is outrageous."
The Army says it plans to begin burning Sarin (GB) agent in Calhoun
County, population 112,000, later this year.
Rufus Kinney, a long time anti-incineration leader from nearby
Jacksonville, Alabama said, "Incineration and maximum protection
are mutually exclusive concepts - either the disposal technology
has to change or the people in Alabama will be put in harm's way
- I hope the Governor continues to insist on putting the people
of Alabama first!"
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