[CPEO-MEF] Governor Wants Power To Shut Down Anniston Incinerator

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The following news item can be viewed online at:
http://www.nbc13.com/news/2358502/detail.html
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Alabama
NBC13.COM
Governor Wants Power To Shut Down Anniston Incinerator
Start Date For Weapons Burning Remains Uncertain
POSTED: 11:34 a.m. CDT July 25, 2003

ANNISTON, Ala. -- Gov. Bob Riley says before he approves operation of
the chemical weapons incinerator in Anniston, he wants the power to shut
it down.

The new condition, added this week, is the reason Riley has not yet made
a decision on the incinerator's startup. With state and Army attorneys
in negotiations, the starting date for the incinerator is again up in
the air, but officials hoped to have it running by the end of July.

The Army built the incinerator to destroy more than 2,200 tons of
deteriorating chemical weapons stored at the Anniston Army Depot.

The plan would involve working with certain restrictions. For example,
the Army would not burn nerve agent during school hours until the
schools have extensive protection equipment installed.

Legally, the Army does not need Riley's go-ahead to begin operations,
but it does need a state hazardous-waste permit, which environmental
regulators last week said was nearly ready.

The Army has chemical weapons stockpiled at eight sites around the
United States, including Anniston.

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