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United States: Army Will Neutralize, Not Incinerate, Colorado Gas The U.S. Defense Department said yesterday that it plans to neutralize 2,600 tons of mustard gas at the Pueblo Chemical Depot in Colorado. Many residents had opposed an alternative proposal to incinerate the gas (see GSN, March 25). Local leaders expressed support for the plan. “This is great news for the community,” said John Klomp, president of the Colorado Chemical Demilitarization Citizens Advisory Commission. “I think the officials at the Pentagon listened very carefully to what the wishes of the community were.” “The approach they’re going to use in Colorado is a low-pressure, low-temperature, easily controllable approach,” said Craig Williams of the Chemical Weapons Working Groups. The United States is accelerating destruction of some chemical weapons to decrease the possibility that terrorists could acquire them, Defense Undersecretary Pete Aldridge said (see GSN, Feb. 5). U.S. Senator Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) said accelerating disposal could raise costs in the short term but fewer maintenance and security requirements could save money in the long term (see GSN, Jan. 4). Before the Army can begin neutralizing the gas, there will be a 30-day public comment period and an environmental impact study (Robert Gehrke, Associated Press, March 27). Alabamans Get Safety Gear Meanwhile, federal officials have agreed to buy safety gear for residents living near an Alabama facility where the Army will incinerate chemical weapons, the Alabama governor’s office said yesterday (see GSN, March 18). The federal government agreed to buy protective hoods and provide training for up to 35,000 people living near the Anniston Army Depot in a compromise with the state government. The federal government will also provide equipment for police, firefighters and other emergency management workers, said Mike Burney, Calhoun County emergency management director. Governor Don Siegelman filed a lawsuit last month to prevent the incinerator from operating (see GSN, Feb. 15). The governor will drop his suit in exchange for $7 million in equipment and training from the federal government, said Siegelman spokesman Rip Andrews (Jay Reeves, Associated Press/Yahoo.com, March 27).
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