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Bill Seeks Ban of Alabama-made Poison

By Associated Press

An Oregon Congressman is pushing legislation to ban an Alabama-made poison that critics claim is both a deadly threat to wildlife and a potential
weapon for terrorists. Bill Seeks Ban of Alabama-made Poison

Published: Thu, November 08, 2007 - 5:31 pm Last Updated: Thu, November 08, 2007 - 5:33 pm

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - An Oregon Congressman is trying again to
build support for legislation to ban an Alabama-made poison that
critics claim is both a deadly threat to wildlife and a potential
weapon for terrorists.
Democratic Representative Pete DeFazio is seeking co-sponsors
for a bill to outlaw the manufacturing and possession of Compound
1080, which opponents say is made nowhere but the east Alabama city
of Oxford by Tull Chemical Company.
The poison is so lethal a single teaspoonful could kill dozens
of people, and there is no known antidote. Previous attempts to
outlaw the material failed, but an aide to DeFazio said the new
measure stands a better chance of passage.
The FBI has listed Compound 1080 as a potential tool for
terrorists, and the Air Force says it is a likely biological agent.
The owner of the Tull Chemical, Charles Wigley, was unavailable
for comment.
The company has said it produces as much as 10,000 pounds of
Compound 1080 annually and most is exported to New Zealand.
The DeFazio legislation includes a government buyback of any
domestic supplies of the poison.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)