Vietnam Veterans of America Inc. Chapter endorses incineration of chemical weapons at Anniston Army Depot.At the Dec. 11 meeting, Vietnam Veterans of America Inc. Chapter 502 voted unanimously to support the incineration of the chemical weapons at Anniston Army Depot.
The membership called upon all parties to move forward with incineration without delay, to safely destroy the weapons.
Vietnam Veterans have been on the receiving end of exposure in Vietnam with the product “Agent Orange” and are very concerned about the continued storage of the leaking weapons at the depot. Delaying the destruction of these chemical weapons is putting the community at an unnecessary and dangerous risk.
The membership expressed increased concerns due to the events of Sept. 11, 2001.
The vote of Chapter 502 is in “step” with the National Vietnam Veterans of America Inc. as well as the Alabama State Council Inc.
Ken Rollins
Vietnam Veterans of America
Anniston
Incinerator dangers
The Dec. 5 editorial, “As Quickly as Possible,” is a regrettable misrepresentation of the roles that both scientists and the public can play in finding solutions to a problem like chemical weapons disposal. In the context of a recent National Research Council (NRC) report, The Star editorial implies that science supports incineration, and further states that citizens and elected officials without a Ph.D. in physics or chemistry have an “agenda” and should be discounted. We disagree.
A large body of scientific research on waste incinerators the world over shows that these facilities, under normal operating conditions, are permitted to create and/or release toxic compounds into the air, water and soil at levels which result in serious human illnesses. Chemical weapons incinerators are no exception. Upset conditions in incinerators mean that even more pollutants can be released to travel through the environment and the food chain, affecting the health of people both near and far from the facility itself.
Sound science, coupled with a precautionary approach to chemical weapons disposal promoted by thousands of people with and without Ph.D.s, are what made non-incineration technologies the choice for four chemical weapons sites. These technologies, recommended by the Department of Defense, and given the green light by the NRC, were designed to mitigate the risks of chemical agent incidents. That Anniston citizens have not been afforded the same technology choice thus far is disgraceful. Citizens and elected officials who question the capability of incineration and demand maximum protection of their communities should be commended, not criticized.
Neil Carman, Ph.D. Chemistry, Texas
Jorge Emmanuel, Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, PE, CHMM, California
(Seven others with Ph.D.s in biology, history and geology also signed the letter)
