[CPEO-MEF] Pacific incinerator "closure" plan puts workers, future islandresid

[kefcrowe@acs.eku.edu]

Chemical Weapons Working Group
PO Box 467	Berea, KY  40403
(859) 986-7565	fax:  (859) 986-2695
kefwilli@acs.eku.edu     www.cwwg.org
for more information:
Elizabeth Crowe:  (859) 986-0868
Poka Laenui:   (808) 696-5157

for immediate release:  Thursday, September 21, 2000
CITIZENS GROUPS SAY ARMY PLANS FOR CLOSURE OF ITS PACIFIC CHEMICAL WEAPONS
INCINERATOR PUT WORKERS, FUTURE ISLAND RESIDENTS AT RISK

Two grassroots environmental coalitions are alleging that the Army's
proposed permit modifications for closure of its Johnston (or, Kalama)
Island chemical weapons incinerator are not protective of workers or
government employees who may live on the Island in the future.  The groups
also warn that incinerator Closure and Island clean up activities could
experience cost overruns, negative duplication of efforts, and lower safety
standards unless greater cooperation between the military branches and
government agencies is established.

The Chemical Weapons Working Group (CWWG) and the Non-Stockpile Chemical
Weapons Citizens Coalition (Coalition) on Monday filed their comments to
the Army's proposed Closure Plan for the Johnston Island incinerator with
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in San Francisco.  The
incinerator, called the Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Destruction System
(JACADS), has been burning chemical weapons stored on the Island, 700 miles
southwest of Hawaii, since 1990.  The facility's operational history
includes releases of live chemical agent out the smokestack, numerous
accidents resulting from incinerator design flaws and plant modifications,
cost escalation and significant schedule overruns.

With the Army's completion of disposal of the Island's chemical weapons
stockpile comes the arduous task of dismantling the incinerator, destroying
or decontaminating all chemical weapons-related materials, and working with
other military agencies to clean up other contaminated portions of the
Island.  The Island will eventually be turned over to the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, which plans to maintain the area as a wildlife sanctuary.
While the national grassroots groups and local Pacific environmental
justice organizations support clean up of the Island, they say the Army's
Closure Plan is grossly insufficient.  Principle concerns outlined in the
comments are that

1)  the Army's intent to clean up the Island to "industrial" rather than
"residential" standards is not protective of future resident government and
agency employees and their families, nor of the Island's threatened and
endangered bird and marine mammal species;
2)   plans to abandon use of "real time" monitoring for chemical agents
during Closure activities puts current Island workers at risk, as chemical
agent accidents may go unnoticed for hours; and
3)  the incineration or thermal treatment of chemical demilitarization
wastes such as carbon filters, plastic protective suits and other items is
unsafe and may result in the release of dioxins and heavy metals.

Poka Laenui, of the Pacific Asia Council of Indigenous Peoples in Hawaii
said, "The concept of cleaning up Kalama Island to an industrial level is
ludicrous.  Kalama Island should be cleaned to the extent that a government
employee's child can run bare-footed over that ground, and consume fish,
seaweed and shelled creatures from the atoll waters without fear of any
negative health effect.  For the sake of future inhabitants and on the
principles of environmental justice, the Island deserves nothing less."

Elizabeth Crowe of the CWWG and the Non-Stockpile Coalition noted that on
May 4 of this year, the National Research Council chemical weapons
stockpile committee issued a "letter report" calling for increased
coordination among the Army, Air Force and other government stakeholders in
Island clean up.  Crowe agrees that such coordination is important to raise
standards in clean up efforts, streamline decision making, and keep costs
in check. JACADS Closure alone is expected to cost around $300 million and
take close to three years to complete.

However, Crowe said, "For the Army to shortchange safe Closure and clean up
activities because of its own poor planning and lack of agency coordination
is unacceptable.  There is still time for the Army, other military
stakeholders and government agencies to conduct clean up of Kalama Island
in a safe, responsible manner."

the CWWG and Coalition's comments to EPA can be obtained at www.cwwg.org or
by request
Elizabeth Crowe
Chemical Weapons Working Group
Non-Stockpile Chemical Weapons Citizens Coalition
(859) 986-0868

*NOTE NEW AREA CODE*

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