May 22, 2013
The Army has agreed to temporarily postpone Wednesday's planned burning of chemical weapons at an incinerator in Anniston until a federal judge can consider an environmental group's request for an even longer delay.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson set a hearing for Friday morning to consider a motion by Chemical Weapons Working Group for a temporary restraining order blocking start-up of the incinerator.
Craig Williams, the group's executive director, said Jackson summoned both sides to court today to set a time for a hearing.
If the group succeeds in getting a temporary injunction, it could delay incineration for several weeks pending consideration. Ultimately, the group would like to see a trial on the merits of the weapons burning, a process that could take years.
On the Net: Chemical Weapons Working Group: http://www.cwwg.org/
