The U.S. Army says it will not expose the public to a toxic chemical in tests at the Hurricane Mesa Test Site, but that hasn't convinced the mayor-elect, Joy Henderlider.
The small town of Virgin is about five miles south of the Hurricane Mesa Test Track, the only privately owned military test site in the country. It also tests for private industry."We're hoping they're not going to test anything up there, not even soap water," she said. "As far as I'm concerned, you can't trust anything the government says, so we'd just as soon they not test at all."
The Army's recent Environmental Assessment revealed plans to fling containers of triethyl phosphate, or TEP, off the mesa, to simulate a more toxic chemical.
The tests are part of the Army's Theatre Missile Defense program to study how well defensive weapons would destroy incoming chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.
The assessment said "no significant impact" would result from the tests, even though TEP is a hazardous material which cannot be transported on an aircraft or rail car which carries passengers.
TEP also is described by the Army as mutagenic, meaning it can damage DNA.
The Grand Canyon Trust objects to the Army's plans for the open-air testing and has vowed to stop it.
The Trust, which recently opened a St. George office, is involved in conserving the natural and cultural resources of the Colorado Plateau. Jim Ruch, acting director of the Trust, said the Army's response to his group's letter of protest is vague and noncommittal.
"They said they are `analyzing their capability to maintain all material on the test site,' and are also undertaking a complete chemical analysis of TEP," Ruch said.
"It's exactly what I expected - ambivalence. It's a vague statement that they would not do bad things, but which all by itself could not be held to be a commitment," he said.
Ruch said that between the letter and follow-up phone conversations with Maj. Tracy A. Bailey of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, the Army did commit to two things: not using TEP in a test in which the public would be exposed to the chemical, and to notification before using TEP.
"We got a commitment that under no circumstances would the Army undertake this testing without notifying me, the local media and any private citizen who requests it. I've been telling everybody to request notification," he said.
Henderlider said if the Army tests any chemical at Hurricane Mesa, she needs plenty of warning.