The Defense Department has ordered Sierra Army Depot to quit exploding outdated munitions in the open air 55 miles northwest of Reno. ‘Pyramid Lake and the people of Nevada and northern California have won a great victory against a large and powerful institution because we worked hard and we worked together,” said Chairman Allan Mandell. The Army exploded outdated bombs, land mines, rocket motors and grenades ? to 52 million pounds of unwanted munitions per year ? and sent clouds containing toxins west to Nevada and northwest toward Susanville, Calif. Lassen County, Calif., officials denied the depot request for an exemption which was appealed. Defense said Sept. 27 it ended demolition rather than challenge the local ruling. Opponents said the order means clean air and fewer health risks for the people of northern Nevada and Lassen County. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., Washoe County health officials, the tribe, Nevada Division of Health, Susanville Rancheria of Indians, Lassen County doctors and Nevada environmental groups joined the fight against the open burning. ‘Lassen County was absolutely right to halt open burning,” Reid said. ‘I can’t believe it went on for as long as it did. The activity was stopped 20 years ago in other places and yet it was allowed to continue here.”
