CHEMICAL WEAPONS WORKING GROUP
P.O. BOX 467 BEREA, KENTUCKY 40403
(606) 986-7565 (606)986-2695 (F)
e-mail: kefwilli@acs.eku.edu web: www.cwwg.org
for further information contact:
Suzanne Marshall: (256) 782-0424
Brenda Lindell: (256) 236-1496
David Christian: (205) 237-0317
Beth Fraser: (706) 235-0131
Craig Williams: (606) 986-7565
for immediate release: Wednesday, September 23, 1998
CITIZENS GROUPS SEND "NOTICE OF INTENT TO FILE SUIT" TO THE ARMY, CBS AND ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT OVER INACCURATE TOXICITY DATA
Serving Alabama's Future Environment (SAFE), Families Concerned About Nerve Gas Incineration (Families) and Coosa River Basin Initiative (CRBI) have submitted a Notice of Intent to File Suit; Request for Order to Terminate or Revoke Permit to the Secretary of the Army, the CBS Corporation (formerly Westinghouse, main contractor for the chemical weapons incinerator project in Anniston) and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM). Under the conditions of the Hazardous Waste Facility Permit issued to the Army and the CBS Corporation in July 1996:
"If the permittee becomes aware that relevant facts were not submitted or were incorrect in the permit application...such facts or information shall be promptly submitted by Permittee [to ADEM]."
Submission of new facts contained in the National Research Council (NRC) December 1997 report, "Review for Acute Human-Toxicity Estimates for Selected Chemical-Warfare Agents," has not occurred in a prompt manner. The NRC report is a review of a 1994 Army study that revealed dramatically increased toxicity figures for chemical warfare agents.
"The Army misled ADEM and the public about the true toxicity for nerve and mustard agents and submitted their permit application knowing full well that the figures were inadequate and wrong," said SAFE Chair, Dr. Suzanne Marshall. "The permit requires that the Army notify ADEM of any relevant information not contained in the application. The implications of toxicity figures that are twice as high as the figures the Army used in the application are enormous for the accurate monitoring of dangerous stack emissions and for emergency planning," said Marshall.
The Intent to File Suit also alleges that the permit contains outdated data on food consumption. A newly-released EPA study shows significantly different figures from those the Army submitted in its application. The Army should have promptly given this information to ADEM as well.
SAFE, Families and CRBI call for termination or revocation of the Army's permit immediately.
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A copy of the Notice of Intent to File Suit can be obtained from the CWWG office or click here.
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