for more information contact: Craig Williams: 859-986-7565
Brenda Lindell: 256-236-1496
Rufus Kinney : 256 -435-4743
for immediate release: Thursday - July 30, 2003
Today, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM)
issued it's final approval to allow the Army to burn the 2,253
tons of chemical warfare agent stored in Anniston. Unnamed high
ranking Army officials confirmed their intention to fire up the
facility as early as August 6-7th.
Several community protection measures the Army agreed to implement
before burning began have yet to be completed, including protective
capabilities at local schools and response plans for the handicapped
. Last week Alabama's Governor, Bob Riley requested the Army
not initiate operations before granting him the authority to stop
the incinerator if he saw fit, but with the permit in hand, this
also appears to have been ignored.
Brenda Lindell, of Families Concerned About Nerve Gas Incineration
(Families) said, "The Army obviously doesn't care about community
protection, preparedness, or the position of the Governor. We
expect the Governor to step forward in the interest of Alabama
citizens and stop this through whatever means necessary."
A growing number of citizens groups in Alabama and neighboring
states oppose incineration and intend on trying to stop the facility
from starting up. Opponents claim the facility will pose a significant
public health and environmental danger to the community and point
to the malfunctions at the Army's existing incinerators to back
up their contentions.
There have been 18 confirmed agent releases from the incinerators
in Utah and the Pacific along with a long list of technical malfunctions,
worker exposures and emissions violations.
In addition, Alabama has never been offered an opportunity to
consider alternative disposal technologies as have other weapons
storage communities. Of the four states that have had such options
offered, all have rejected incineration for what they consider
to be safer neutralization disposal methods.
Craig Williams, director of the Chemical Weapons Working Group
(CWWG) said, "It is our intention, along with the other plaintiff
groups, to file a Temporary Restraining Order petition to the
Federal Court in Washington, D.C. on Monday. We believe the Army
is in violation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
and other federal requirements and we intend to do everything
possible to prevent the burning of these weapons in favor of safer
disposal methods."
Citizens are also currently engaged in legal action to stop the
incinerators planned for Oregon and Arkansas and to halt operations
in Utah. No lawsuits exist where incineration has been abandoned.
In addition to litigation organizers say the next anti-incineration
protest is planned for Anniston on August 16th.
Rufus Kinney, a local college professor and member of "Families"
said, "The citizens of Alabama are required by Congressional
law to be provided 'Maximum Protection' during chemical weapons
disposal. Incineration can not meet this standard - worse yet,
the Army is moving forward before the community has it's safety
and response measures completely in place. If they fire up on
the 7th and have an accident on the 8th, even our emergency responders
are not prepared to react. This is our own government.......it's
nothing short of outrageous!"
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