United States:  Groups Appeal to Courts to Stop Chemical Incineration

Environmental and public interest groups asked a U.S. court yesterday to block the incineration of chemical weapons at the Anniston weapons disposal facility in Alabama (see GSN, Aug. 1).

The U.S. Army is set to begin destroying sarin-filled rockets tomorrow.  The coalition asked for an injunction from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Reuters reported.

“It is no secret that this community is grossly unprepared for an incident with these weapons of mass destruction,” said Craig Williams, director of the Chemical Weapons Working Group, part of the coalition seeking the injunction.  “We are confident that when presented with the facts, a judge will come to that same conclusion,” he added (Verna Gates, Reuters/Planet Ark, Aug. 5).

To address local concerns about the impending incineration, county officials are distributing gas masks, portable air filters, plastic sheets and duct tape to the 35,000 residents who live closest to the depot.

“I’m nervous,” said Haley Joiner, an area hairstylist.  “People make mistakes.  What if they drop something?  Then what?  We’re dead,” she added (Ken Ellingwood, Los Angeles Times, Aug. 5).

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United States:  Anniston Chemical Weapons Disposal to Begin Next Week

After receiving a legal thumbs-up from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, the U.S. Army is set to begin destroying chemical weapons stockpiles at the Anniston Army Deport next week, acting Army Secretary Les Brownlee said yesterday (see GSN, July 28).

Brownlee ordered the destruction to begin Aug. 6 despite concerns about the 250,000 residents who live within 30 miles of the depot.

“Public safety remains our principal interest,” Brownlee said yesterday (Kyle Wingfield, Associated Press/Birmingham News, Aug. 1).

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