Army must justify disposal methods at Sierra Army Depot

Thursday, Dec. 28, 2000 | 2:30 a.m.

"That's good news for us," said Norman Harry, chairman of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe that is a party in a lawsuit against the depot's demolition activities.

Critics earlier complained to the EPA that the depot was not in compliance with federal standards and asked that the permitting process for the depot be reopened.

The EPA agreed and told Lassen County officials to reopen the permitting process, which they did earlier this month.

Under the process, the Army must show its operations are within Clean Air Act provisions.

Base officials have said the open burning of munitions is conducted safely. But critics, including the Pyramid Lake tribe, say the practice is hazardous to people who live downwind of the base 55 miles northwest of Reno.

"The Lassen County officials showed great courage and demonstrated their leadership by reopening the depot's permit," Harry told the Reno Gazette-Journal.

"The people, agencies and governments should now focus on working together to promote safe, alternative technologies for munitions disposal."

The EPA said the Lassen County permit "must be revised to include missing air pollution controls and limits to correct conditions based on inaccurate information."

The depot is also applying for a California state permit to continue its demolition operations.

Over the last decade, about 28,000 tons of unwanted munitions have been detonated or burned in the open air at the depot every year. In 1995 alone, 53 million pounds of military explosives and 200 rocket motors were detonated or burned.