May 25, 2013
Gov. Bob Riley is consulting with Calhoun County officials and emergency management agency directors before signing off on the startup of the chemical weapons incinerator at Anniston Army Depot.
With his signature, limited operations could begin this summer. Two federal officials already have signed off on the startup.
Jim Martin, the deputy site manager at the Anniston Chemical Agent Disposal Facility, briefed local emergency management officials and county politicians at a meeting last Friday in Eastaboga.
State emergency management officials asked each county affected by the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Plan to submit opinions on the plan. Those counties include Calhoun, Cleburne, Clay, Talladega, St. Clair and Etowah.
The commission said in a letter to Riley two weeks ago that it is for the destruction of the chemical weapons, but not until all of U.S. Senator Richard Shelby's safety requirements have been met.
The interim operations plan calls for destroying non-gelled, GB nerve agent rockets during off-school hours, from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
