Chemical Weapons Working Group
P.O. Box 467
Berea, KY 40403
(859) 986-7565 (2695 -fax)
kefwilli@acs.eku.edu www.cwwg.org
for more information contact:
Elizabeth Crowe: (859) 986-0868
Richard Condit: (202) 955-6968 x4
for immediate release: Monday, May 22, 2000
NATIONAL COALITION OPPOSES BURNING PCBs IN CHEMICAL
WEAPONS INCINERATORS; SAYS PLAN VIOLATES
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, LAWS AND REGULATIONS
The Chemical Weapons Working Group (CWWG) coalition, along with
numerous other groups and individuals has submitted comments to the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the Army's plan to burn
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in chemical weapons incinerators
across the country. EPA announced in February its intention to grant
the Army a permit to burn PCB-laden rocket shipping tubes as part of its
chemical demilitarization effort, and sought public comments on the
plan.
The groups opposed the EPA's plan to grant a permit to the Army to burn
PCBs, stating that the plan " violates the National Environmental Policy
Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, the civil rights of the directly
impacted populations, principles of Environmental Justice, and the
rights of children," and should therefore not be granted. In fact, the
comments state, "there are no [permit] approval conditions that can
adequately protect human health and the environment."
Even though production of PCBs in the U.S. was halted in the late
1970s, the chemicals are still persistent in the environment and in our
bodies. Humans are exposed to PCBs primarily through the food chain,
where the chemicals accumulate and in fatty tissues. PCBs have been
linked to cancer, reproductive, developmental and immune system
disorders and other illnesses. The CWWG has for years promoted the
use of safer, non-incineration technologies for chemical weapons and
toxic wastes like PCBs. Several non-incineration technologies, some of
which are known to safely destroy PCBs with no toxic emissions, are
being demonstrated through the Assembled Chemical Weapons
Assessment program.
Ironically, the EPA's draft PCBs permit approval comes just after federal
health agencies, and the EPA itself, confirmed that PCB levels in the
blood of Anniston, Alabama residents are some of the highest in the
nation. Construction of a chemical weapons incinerator in Anniston is
nearing completion. The CWWG's comments criticize EPA for its
"callous disregard [of] current human health and environmental issues"
like those in Anniston and the stockpile site in Pine Bluff, Arkansas
where PCB contamination is known to exist.
Both Anniston and Pine Bluff are predominantly African-American
communities, a fact which raises serious environmental justice concerns.
The CWWG's Elizabeth Crowe said, "By allowing for the additional
release of PCBs in these communities, EPA is clearly violating
Environmental Justice principles. It is unconscionable for EPA to justify
the incineration of PCBs when safer destruction methods exist."
Among the points made in the CWWG comments:
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