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United States: Alabama Governor Tries to Block CW Incinerator Alabama Governor Don Siegelman filed a lawsuit yesterday to block the opening of a $1 billion chemical weapons incinerator at the Anniston Army Depot. He said the federal government failed to spend $40.5 million in safety measures for the surrounding communities (see GSN, Feb. 14). “Not so much as a match will be struck in Anniston until the safety of our citizens is guaranteed,” Siegelman said. There are 75,000 people living within 10 miles of the facility. Alabama officials and the U.S. Army agreed last year to spend $40.5 million in federal funds on gas masks, protective suits and other safety measures, Siegelman said. Later, the Federal Emergency Management Agency decided not to buy some of the equipment, following a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that said part of the plan would present logistical problems and have a harmful psychological effect on residents living near the incinerator. The federal government decided against spending $15.5 million of the agreed funds on gas masks and protective suits, said Mike Abrams, spokesman for the incinerator. Instead, authorities told residents to seal houses with plastic sheeting and duct tape if an accident occurs. The Army said it has implemented all possible safety measures. The safest thing is to destroy the chemical agents, the Army said (see GSN, Oct. 2, 2001). Storing the chemicals is more dangerous, said Abrams. “They will be a problem until we process them in our facility,” he said. The lawsuit is unnecessary, said Congressman Bob Riley (R-Ala.), a potential opponent to Siegelman in November’s elections. The federal government has provided “every assurance” that Alabama would get the money, he said. “The last thing we need to do is get a bunch of lawyers involved.” The Army plans to destroy 2,254 tons of chemical weapons dating back to World War II during a four-year period (Jay Reeves, Associated Press/Yahoo.com, Feb. 15).
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