Tue, Mar. 9, 2004

Senate panel questions Army study
Tuesday, Apr 12, 2005

By Alison Vekshin
Stephens Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON -- Two Colorado senators advised Pentagon officials on Monday to abandon an idea of transporting chemical weapons among eight storage sites to speed their disposal, saying the practice is prohibited by law.

The Army is studying the proposal as part of a study into alternatives for destroying the nation's chemical weapons stockpile to meet a 2012 international treaty deadline.

"These chemical munitions are not going to be transported, one, because it's a violation of federal law and, two, because of community concern with respect to public safety," Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., said during a Senate Armed Services subcommittee hearing.

Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., also criticized the idea, saying it was excluded by law.

Michael Wynne, acting under secretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, defended the option.

"I owe you at this national level every alternative to move forward in meeting the treaty," Wynne said. "We transport hazardous materials through our major cities all the time."

The chemical weapons are stored at eight sites including the Pine Bluff Arsenal, which began incinerating its stockpile last month. Destruction sites in Blue Grass, Ky., and Pueblo, Colo., are in the design phase and their stockpiles could end up being moved for disposal at other sites under the transportation option being studied.

Safety groups and some lawmakers representing districts with storage sites oppose moving the ammunition, arguing it could pose health and safety risks.

Wynne, who directed the Army to study options, said he did not exclude any alternatives.

"I am fully aware any plan to relocate chemical weapons will require statutory authority," he said. "However, I wanted to maximize our ability to meet (the treaty deadline) and reduce the unacceptably high operational risks and the escalating cost of proposed designs."

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, criticized the delays and rising costs involved in meeting the 2012 deadline.

"In addition to delays, the cost of the program continues to increase at an alarming rate," Cornyn said. "The Department of Defense has a responsibility to manage the chemical demilitarization program efficiently and effectively."

Claude Bolton, Army assistant secretary of acquisition, logistics and technology, cited lawsuits and state emergency preparedness requirements as some of the causes for rising costs and delays.