Laura Rench

Community organizer, Citizens for the Responsible Destruction of Chemical Weapons in Dayton (2004 winner)
As an organizer with The Citizens for the Responsible Destruction of Chemical Weapons, Laura Rench led a campaign which prevented the US Army from shipping VX hydrosylate, a byproduct of VX nerve gas, into the Jefferson Township community of Dayton. She organized hundreds of neighbors to protest the proposal, helped get 35 government entities and community groups to pass resolutions against the proposal, and pressured the county to withdraw a sewage treatment permit for PermaFix.

In October 2003, the Army withdrew its proposal to ship the nerve gas to Dayton. After continued citizen pressure, the company has now been cited for 48 violations of environmental laws, neighbors of Citizens for the Responsible Destruction of Chemical weapons continue to press for changes at the facility.

Laura Rench

Community organizer, Citizens for the Responsible Destruction of Chemical Weapons in Dayton (2004 winner)
As an organizer with The Citizens for the Responsible Destruction of Chemical Weapons, Laura Rench led a campaign which prevented the US Army from shipping VX hydrosylate, a byproduct of VX nerve gas, into the Jefferson Township community of Dayton. She organized hundreds of neighbors to protest the proposal, helped get 35 government entities and community groups to pass resolutions against the proposal, and pressured the county to withdraw a sewage treatment permit for PermaFix.

In October 2003, the Army withdrew its proposal to ship the nerve gas to Dayton. After continued citizen pressure, the company has now been cited for 48 violations of environmental laws, neighbors of Citizens for the Responsible Destruction of Chemical weapons continue to press for changes at the facility.