DATE=4/15/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-40056
TITLE= NAPALM TRAIN
BYLINE= MICHAEL LELAND
DATELINE= CHICAGO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A FREIGHT TRAIN CARRYING MORE THAN 45-THOUSAND LITERS OF
VIETNAM-ERA NAPALM IS MOVING SLOWLY THROUGH THE AMERICAN
SOUTHWEST, THOUGH ITS FINAL DESTINATION IS UNCERTAIN. THE
CHEMICAL WAS USED IN FIREBOMBS DURING WORLD WAR TWO, AS WELL AS
THE KOREAN AND VIETNAM WARS. THE U-S NAVY PLANNED TO SHIP THE
NAPALM TO THE MIDWEST STATE OF INDIANA, WHERE IT WOULD BE
PREPARED FOR INCINERATION. THE RECYCLING COMPANY NOW SAYS
BECAUSE OF POLITICAL AND PUBLIC PRESSURE, IT WILL REFUSE TO
ACCEPT THE SHIPMENT. MORE FROM VOA'S MICHAEL LELAND IN CHICAGO.
TEXT: SINCE THE END OF THE VIETNAM WAR, THE U-S MILITARY'S
TEN-MILLION KILOGRAM SUPPLY OF NAPALM HAS BEEN STORED IN
THOUSANDS OF CANISTERS ON A MILITARY BASE NORTH OF THE CITY OF
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. SOME OF THOSE CANISTERS HAVE BEGUN TO
LEAK, SO THE U-S NAVY HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR A WAY TO SAFELY
DISPOSE OF ITS NAPALM. LAST YEAR, THE NAVY SIGNED A
TWO-AND-A-HALF-MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT WITH INDIANA-BASED
POLLUTION CONTROL INDUSTRIES, WHICH WOULD CONVERT THE NAPALM INTO
A FUEL TO BE BURNED IN CEMENT KILNS.
LATE LAST YEAR, POLITICAL LEADERS IN THE CHICAGO AREA WENT ON
RECORD OPPOSING THE RECYCLING PLAN, BECAUSE TRAINS CARRYING THE
NAPALM WOULD PASS THROUGH THE REGION. THE NAVY HELD A SERIES OF
PUBLIC MEETINGS EARLY THIS YEAR TO EXPLAIN THE RECYCLING PLAN,
AND TO TRY TO EASE SAFETY CONCERNS. ON APRIL TENTH, CITING
POLITICAL AND PUBLIC PRESSURE, POLLUTION CONTROL INDUSTRIES TOLD
THE NAVY NOT TO SHIP THE NAPALM AND ASKED THAT IT BE RELEASED
FROM ITS CONTRACT. THE FIRST NAPALM TRAIN LEFT CALIFORNIA ON
APRIL ELEVENTH, THE DAY BEFORE EASTER. U-S REPRESENTATIVE PETE
VISCLOSKY OF INDIANA IS UPSET.
// VISCLOSKY ACT //
I THINK IT WAS ABSOLUTELY INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE UNITED
STATES NAVY IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT OVER THIS HOLIDAY
WEEKEND TO BEGIN THE SHIPMENT OF NAPALM.
// END ACT //
REPRESENTATIVE RON PACKARD OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IS UPSET, TOO.
HE BLAMES POLITICAL LEADERS FROM CHICAGO AND NORTHWEST INDIANA
FOR THE PRESSURE THAT LED TO POLLUTION CONTROL INDUSTRY'S
DECISION TO BACK OUT OF ITS CONTRACT. THE REPRESENTATIVE IS
CALLING ON THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE TO INVESTIGATE THE
MATTER, WHICH HE SAYS RESULTED IN THE PUBLIC BEING FRIGHTENED OF
THE SHIPMENT FOR NO GOOD REASON.
// PACKARD ACT //
IT IS SAFE TO SHIP NAPALM -- MUCH, MUCH SAFER THAN
GASOLINE AND WE SHIP GASOLINE IN VIRTUALLY EVERY
COMMUNITY IN AMERICA EVERY DAY. IT IS NOT A SAFETY
FACTOR.
// END ACT //
ENVIRONMENTALISTS SAY THEY ARE PLEASED THAT POLLUTION CONTROL
INDUSTRIES WANTS TO CANCEL ITS CONTRACT. SCOTT SEDERSTROM IS A
SPOKESMAN FOR CHICAGO-BASED "CITIZENS FOR A BETTER ENVIRONMENT."
HE SAYS THE NAVY DOES NOT HAVE TO MOVE THE NAPALM ANYWHERE TO
SAFELY DISPOSE OF IT.
// SEDERSTROM ACT //
THERE ARE NON-INCINERATION TECHNOLOGIES THAT CAN BE
USED TO DISPOSE OF THE NAPALM. IT WOULD BE BETTER TO
USE THOSE ALTERNATIVES ON-SITE (IN CALIFORNIA) THAN TO
USE THIS COCKAMAMIE (SENSELESS) SCHEME OF SHIPPING IT
HALFWAY ACROSS THE UNITED STATES IN ORDER TO DISPOSE OF
IT. THIS IS AN UNSAFE PRACTICE.
// END ACT //
THE U-S- NAVY SAYS IT IS COMMITTED TO RECYCLING ITS SUPPLY OF
NAPALM, THOUGH IT SAYS NO DECISION HAS BEEN MADE ABOUT WHAT TO
DO WITH THE SHIPMENT THAT LEFT CALIFORNIA LAST SATURDAY. IT IS
DUE TO REACH INDIANA BY EARLY NEXT WEEK. (SIGNED)
NEB/MJL/PLM
15-Apr-98 2:59 PM EDT (1859 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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