Reid tries to block funds for munitions depot

Wednesday, March 8, 2000 | 9:25 a.m.

"This is an issue of critical importance to both states," the Nevada Democrat said. "The open burning of munitions releases known carcinogens into the air for many miles."

Reid this week asked the Senate's Defense Appropriations Committee to support his requests that the Army cease open burning and detonation of munitions at the depot 55 miles northwest of Reno.

He also asked that unwanted or obsolete munitions and the appropriations to dispose of them be transferred from Sierra Army Depot in Herlong, Calif., to a facility in Hawthorne.

The Western Demilitarization Facility in Hawthorne primarily uses closed disposal systems to recycle or destroy munitions. The facility also burns or detonates explosives if they can't be destroyed any other way.

Reid has already asked the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to investigate allegations of high cancer rates in northern California and Nevada.

The California Health Department has said there is no evidence of cancer clusters in the California towns near the depot, but the agency said the rural area might have too small a population for an accurate study.

The Pyramid Lake Paiute tribe and the Washoe District Board of Health have also asked the Army to stop the burnings, scheduled to resume next month. In California, the Lassen County Board of Supervisors has reopened consideration of the Army's air pollution control permit.

"Maybe with all these forces stacked against them, the Army will stop the burning and stop the toxic cloud from going over our neighborhoods," said Jack Pastor, a Susanville businessman who is leading the effort against the depot.

"California regulators don't seem to want to take a stand unless they have a body count," he said.