Resolution
Passed Unanimously

National Board of the Sierra Club

21 February 2004
Albuquerque, New Mexico


Whereas, the United States Army ("the Army") is currently engaged in the process of incinerating chemical weapons at the Anniston Army Depot ("the Depot") located near Anniston, Alabama;

Whereas, the Army announced its intent to continue incinerating chemical weapons at the Depot until sometime in 2011;

Whereas, approximately 75,000 people live within a ten-mile radius of the Depot;

Whereas, alternative technologies exist to destroy chemical weapons, and the Depot is the most populated location in the world in which chemical weapons are being destroyed by the method of incineration;

Whereas, the chemical weapons incinerator at the Depot has already discharged an unknown amount of toxic chemicals into the atmosphere;

Whereas, the chemical weapons incinerator at the Depot may discharge additional toxic chemicals into the atmosphere in the future;

Whereas, atmospheric monitoring devices currently installed at or near the Depot are not capable of identifying the quantity or type of toxic chemicals are routinely discharged into the environment;

Whereas, in the event of a future chemical agent discharge, if superior monitoring devices are not installed, citizens of communities near the Depot may not be able to take action in sufficient time to prevent injury because of the delay between the time of a chemical agent discharge and the time that the currently-used monitoring devices can provide information about the type and quantity of the discharge;

Whereas, a network of infrared monitoring devices could be installed at the Depot which would be capable of quickly detecting and identifying chemical agent discharges such that citizens of communities near the Depot may obtain information about the discharge in sufficient time to take action to protect their lives and health;

Therefore, be it resolved, the Sierra Club - Alabama Chapter urges the Army to take the following actions:

1) to install a network of infrared air monitors around the Depot which are capable of quickly detecting and identifying chemical agent discharges such that citizens of nearby communities may obtain information about the type and quantity of the discharge in sufficient time to take action to protect their lives and health; and

2) to halt the incineration of chemical weapons at the Depot until such infrared air monitors are installed and operating.

Passed unanimously by the National Board of the Sierra Club: 21 February 2004.