Jan. 12, 2000
Chip Ward/ Families Against Incinerator Risk: "Governor Leavitt, you have a new scandal on your hands."
Sharp reactions today to allegations of wrongdoing at the Army's chemical weapons incinerator in Tooele County.
Critics are demanding a full investigation, and the immediate shutdown of the plant.
A firestorm of controversy has erupted around a new whistleblower, who spoke first on Channel Five two days ago.
Environment Specialist John Hollenhorst broke that story and has the latest developments.
State officials continue to insist they known of no reason to suspect a health or safety problem at the incinerator.
But Gary Harris says that's part of the problem-- state regulators were always either in the dark or looking the other way.
First from Oregon on KSL News.
Then from Washington at the National Press Club.
Now on Utah's Capitol Hill, where Gary Harris and his entourage went on the attack against state watchdogs.
Harris say he helped get state approval to operate the plant using deceptions, phony paperwork and rigged tests, and sometimes state regulators knew what they were doing was illegal.
Gary Harris/Former Incinerator Official: "Many questionable practices that were not environmentally protective or safe or legal."
Chip Ward/Families Against Incinerator Risk: "Clearly Utah state regulators are lapdogs, not watchdogs. And they know only one trick-- roll over!"
Mick Harrison/Harris's attorney: "In the context of chemical disposal, it's reckless to the point of being insane."
Dennis Downs heads the Utah Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste which is in the middle of the bulls-eye on many of Harris's 128 allegations.
Dennis Downs/Utah Dir. of Solid & Hazadous Waste: "We've asked our staff members to go through those one by one and evaluate each one and see if there are ones where we need to act immediately."
Downs: "If we were to see anything that would indicate there is unsafe operation of that facility, then we would move to curtail activities out there or shut the facility down. So far we have not seen that."
Meanwhile, questions are swirling about Harris's motives and credibility. He fought the Army for years to get his medical bills paid for health problems he says were caused by Amry chemicals. It was only after Army lawyers said "No" that he went to the critics and blew the whistle.
John Hollenhorst/Eyewitness News: "Did you ever threaten the Army that you would do that?
Harris: "I let them know that I was not going to take 'No' for an answer."
Hollenhorst: "If they had given you your medical benefits, would you have quietly taken the money and gone away and never made an issue out of this?"
Harris: "That's a possibility."
But Harris' lawyer says Harris' motives have absolutely nothing to do with whether the allegations are true.
