Gov. Don Siegelman is renewing his effort to delay the startup of Anniston's chemical weapons incinerator in response to lingering disputes over the area's emergency preparedness program.In the more than two months since the administration withdrew a motion for an injunction against the facility, federal and local officials have been unable to agree on the particulars surrounding protective measures the federal government has agreed to fund.
In March, the Federal Emergency Management Agency relented on its objections to distributing respiratory hoods to the community near the Anniston Army Depot. What appeared to be a thaw, turned out to be anything but.
FEMA continues to hold more than $7 million that would pay for the hoods as well as protective suits for emergency responders, and the agency has yet to decide how many schools will receive systems that would make them airtight in the event of a chemical release.
The governor formally withdrew his motion for injunction in late March, but he has since threatened to re-file several times. By Friday, one of his aides said, the threats were giving way to action.
Siegelman spokesman Carrie Kurlander was unable to provide details on the most recent legal activity, saying only, "We are in the process of reversing the action."
Last month, the head of the Alabama Education Association, the powerful teacher's lobby, asked Siegelman to reinstate his effort to halt the incinerator and offered to become a party to the legal effort.
Executive Director Paul Hubbert said the association had not yet done so.
"If the governor thinks it will be helpful, we will certainly join him," Hubbert said.
FEMA officials could not be reached for comment late Friday.
The incinerator, completed last summer, is scheduled to begin testing on nerve agent in September. It is undergoing testing on surrogate materials.
