Sen. Richard Shelby threatened Thursday to withdraw his support for the startup of the chemical weapons incinerator as disputes between the county and federal governments continue to rage.The Tuscaloosa Republican seconded the Calhoun County Commission's objections to a number of requirements the federal government has placed on its plans to distribute protective hoods to residents living near the Anniston Army Depot.
In a letter to the senator Thursday, the County Commission described as "outrageous demands" 15 stipulations made by the Federal Emergency Agency.
These stipulations include making the commission and the Anniston City Council sign off on the chosen type of hood, and requiring the county to tell the public that sealing doors and windows with duct tape and plastic would offer a higher level of protection than would the hoods.
"These criteria are unnecessary, bureaucratic and counterproductive," said Shelby spokeswoman Andrea Andrews. "These criteria will make it very difficult, if not impossible, for Sen. Shelby to support the operation of the chemical demilitarization facility near the Anniston Army Depot."
There is no indication of what specific action Shelby might take against the incinerator, which is now undergoing testing and is scheduled to begin burning nerve agent in September. However, the strong language in his statement recalls the tone Gov. Don Siegelman took before he sued the federal government over the same issue earlier this year.
Siegelman recently dropped part of his lawsuit asking a judge to halt the incinerator when it became apparent that FEMA would release funding for hoods and other protective measures.
Issuing the criteria was the initial step in establishing the first program to bring this kind of protective gear to the general public. Instead, the stipulations threaten to bring the long-running disputes to a boil once again.
FEMA has disagreed with the county's insistence that the hoods are crucial to its emergency preparedness program. Citing its concerns that the hoods, which are similar to gas masks, would pose safety problems, FEMA withheld $5 million in funding approved by the Pentagon last year.
The reactions of the commission, Shelby and Rep. Bob Riley, R-Ashland, to FEMA's requirements indicate in no uncertain terms that the issue is far from dead.
"We'll have to go back into discussions with FEMA," said Pepper Bryars, a spokesman for Riley. "We thought we had FEMA's concerns resolved. We thought this case was closed."
Siegelman staff could not be reached for comment.
The commission's letter takes issue with several of FEMA's requirements, including the demand that the county create a public information campaign with the duct tape and plastic kit at its center.
"This is ridiculous," the letter reads. "Obviously neither the State of Alabama nor the Calhoun County (Emergency Management Agency) feels this way or we would not have spent the last year and a half attempting to secure the funds necessary to purchase these protective hoods."
Of the requirement that would involve the commission and City Council in the process of selecting the hood, the commission wrote: "The decision to select and employ a protective hood is not a popularity contest. Instead, it is a matter of critical importance to the health and safety of our citizens."
The letter urges Shelby to take legislative action to force FEMA to send the money to the county.
Shelby, a member of the Senate Appropriations committee, last year called a hearing on the Army's chemical weapons disposal program. He has in the past said he would ask the Secretary of Defense to halt the incinerator if his safety concerns weren't satisfied.
A FEMA spokesman reached Thursday before Shelby issued his statement said the agency continues to "work closely" with the state and county on the issue. Efforts to reach the senator after the statement were unsuccessful.
