More than six months after the federal government promised tens of millions of dollars worth of safety precautions for the community outside the Anniston Army Depot, a few key issues remain outstanding.There’s the more than $7 million to pay for protective equipment for emergency responders and residents who live near the depot’s store of chemical weapons. And there’s the decision pending before federal officials about protecting county schools, a decision that could cost several million dollars more.
As the Army continues to ready its incinerator, expecting to begin test burning the weapons in September, a stalemate with no end in sight has taken shape. Federal officials will not say when the money will be released or when they will decide which, if any, county schools will receive equipment that would make them airtight during a chemical weapons accident.
“We’re continuing to work with the state on this,” said Federal Emergency Management Agency spokeswoman Mary Hudak. “But there are no final decisions or determinations on anything in particular.”
In agreeing to fund protective respiratory hoods for civilians living near the depot, FEMA has taken on the responsibility for shaping an unprecedented program. County officials have demanded the money without any strings attached, but they say they’re waiting on FEMA.
“It’s at a standstill,” said Calhoun County EMA spokesman Brian Lazenby. “The ball is in their court.”
The ball was effectively passed to FEMA almost a month ago when the County Commission balked at a list of criteria the agency created to guide the distribution of the protective hoods. The commission was echoed by Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Tuscaloosa, who threatened to pull his support for the startup of the incinerator.
An April 18 meeting between state, federal and local officials that was supposedly an attempt to resolve the difference of opinion on how the program should be run ended without a resolution. Following the meeting, Alabama EMA Director Lee Helms sent a letter demanding that the funds be released immediately.
Since then there has been no apparent movement and no new meeting dates have been set, Hudak said.
The same is true of the schools issue. In early April, Calhoun County Schools officials heard an Army Corps of Engineers recommendation that no more schools get overpressurization systems.
FEMA is left to decide how to act on the recommendation.
Hudak would not wager a prediction on when these issues will be resolved.
