for more information:
Jason Groenewold (801) 364-5110
Craig Williams (859) 986-7565
for immediate release: September 17, 2000
Samples taken from munitions once filled with deadly nerve agent show harmful contaminants are still present. The samples indicate lead residues at 600 parts per million (ppm); Federal regulations by the US Environmental Protection Agency limit amounts to 5 ppm before it is deemed to pose a threat to human health and the environment.
The samples were obtained by Trina Allen after she discovered a massive pile of munition casings from the Army’s Tooele chemical weapons incinerator dumped just off of I-80 and 7200 South. Allen was the former hazardous waste manager at the incinerator before she became a whistleblower in 1997. Allen has been awarded reinstatement, back-pay, compensatory and punitive damages by an Administrative Law judge. The Army is currently appealing this decision.
"Improper management of these residues was one of the issues raised with the Army and EG&G officials prior to my leaving the facility," said Allen.
Allen has notified the Utah Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste (DSHW) of the lab results. So far, state regulators with the DSHW have been unwilling to take samples of the munitions even though they have been asked to do so by Allen and the Utah based Families Against Incinerator Risk (FAIR).
"It’s ironic how the regulatory agency responsible for protecting public health has been assuring us that dumping these munitions next to the interstate was safe, but have so far been unwilling to even do so much as take a sample," said FAIR Director Jason Groenewold. "Now that results are back showing unacceptable levels of contaminants, let’s see if they take immediate measures to protect the public and workers, or if they look for every loop-hole in the book to let the Army off the hook."
How to handle the munitions that have been treated by incineration has been a point of contention between the State and the Army. As recently as March, the DSHW sent a letter to the Army telling them to treat the munitions as hazardous waste. Provisions were later made to ignore the hazardous waste code if the Army vacuumed the munitions so that no residues were left in or on the munitions. Allen collected samples from debris that was sitting both inside and on top of the munitions. Allen said she was able to "effortlessly" obtain "handfuls" of lead contaminated debris off the metal.
"The regulators should take immediate steps to isolate the area and protect the workers who are handling these munitions," said Allen. "Toxic levels of lead are freely blowing in the wind and could be leaching into the groundwater."
Lead is one of the most thoroughly tested heavy metals. It has been proven to cause learning disorders and brain damage in children. Lead has been banned from use in house paints and gasoline for decades because of its toxic effects on human health.
Representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency will be in Utah this week to inspect the site.
"Additional samples of the waste are being analyzed for other toxins besides heavy metals, and results should be back in 1-2 weeks," said Allen. "In the meantime, state regulators should stop the contractor from transporting the munition carcasses over the public highways on flatbed trucks."
 CWWG Home Page |
Contact us: |