12 Alabama groups file suit against incineration

This story was published Wed, Nov 20, 2002

By the Herald Oregon bureau

Oregon isn't the only state where a lawsuit by anti-incineration groups is trying to stop the Army from burning chemical munitions.

Twelve organizations have filed suit in federal court in Birmingham, Ala., seeking a safer, faster means of disposal.

The groups say the Army's incineration program is a failure, and they are demanding the Army, its contractor and Alabama state regulators protect the health and safety of workers and the community by adopting other technologies.

"The Army's chemical weapons incinerator has turned Anniston into a human sacrifice zone," said Brenda Lindell, a member of Families Concerned About Nerve Gas Incineration. "Incineration is unsafe, unjust and completely unnecessary given that safer methods exist."

The Army plans to begin agent trial burns in its Anniston incinerator in early 2003.

Plaintiffs in the suit are the Alabama Environmental Council, Calhoun County Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the Chemical Weapons Working Group, Citizens for Environmental Justice, Coosa River Basin Initiative, Families Concerned About Nerve Gas Incineration, Friends of Terrapin Creek, Friends of Rural Alabama, Serving Alabama's Future Environment, Sierra Club, Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation and Wild Alabama.

A similar suit is being heard in Multnomah County Circuit Court in Portland.

 

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