[Peace-discuss] Chemical Weapons disposal

[Dlind49 at aol.com]

The imminent action to destroy chemcial weapons via incineration at Anniston 
Army Depot without efffective protective and emergency response measures in 
place given the proven history of releases and now known adverse health effects 
from very low level exposures as a consequence of PROJECT SHAD ( deliberate 
use of chmcial and biologcal weposn on U.S. civilians and military personnel)  
GULF WAR I must be stopped.  While these is no effective sheltering possible 
and actual decontamination is beyond any current EMS capability, the lack of 
effective medical care and response has been and still is ignored. Expousre to 
the nerve agents to be burned requires administeration of antidotes within 5 - 7 
minutes  folowed by thorough decontamination definitive medical care is a 
clean facility. The arrogance of our military leaders and proven willful 
disregard requires direct intervention by President George W. Bush.     

CHEMICAL WEAPONS WORKING GROUP       
P.O. Box 467, Berea, Kentucky   40403
Phone:  (859) 986-7565      Fax: (859) 986-2695
e-mail: craig at cwwg.org
web: www.cwwg.org

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

ALABAMA REGULATORS ISSUE ARMY PERMIT TO BURN CHEMICAL WEAPONS: 
OPPONENTS VOW LEGAL BATTLE / PROTESTS
Citizens Groups Plan Filing a Restraining Order in Federal Court to 
Block Chemical Weapons Incineration Start-Up In Anniston - Protests 
Also Planned

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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