Army to Delay Ala. Chemical Weapons Burn

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON -- The Army has agreed to postpone Wednesday's burning of chemical weapons at an incinerator in Anniston, Ala., until a federal judge can consider an environmental group's request for a restraining order.

On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson set a hearing for Friday morning to consider a motion by the Chemical Weapons Working Group for a temporary restraining order blocking startup of the incinerator. The Army had planned to begin operations Wednesday morning.

Army officials released a statement Tuesday afternoon announcing the decision but expressing confidence the judge would quickly reject the motion without further delay.

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It is expected to take seven years to destroy the 2,254 tons of Cold War-era chemical weapons housed at Anniston Army Depot. That represents just about 7 percent of the 31,000 tons the United States has agreed to destroy by 2007 under an international treaty.

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