Berea Citizen
May 9, 2002

Let's get on with chemical weapons destruction...

Dear Editor,

Destruction of chemical weapons at the Blue Grass Army Depot has been a long time coming. More and more, I hear people say "Let's just get on with it!" I couldn't agree more.

Thank goodness we don't have to BURN the nasty stuff. The Department of Defense is offering us a set of technology options: methods that have proven to be capable of destroying chemical weapons while containing and controlling hazardous by-products, rather than releasing them through a smokestack. Kentucky could follow the path paved by other chemical weapons stockpile sites -- in Maryland, Indiana and Colorado -- at which chemical weapons will be destroyed with neutralization and safer non-incineration technologies.

We in Kentucky are fortunate indeed not to be locked into the incineration technology which caused so many problems in Utah and elsewhere. Just last week more workers at the Utah chemical weapons incinerator went public with allegations that they are put at unnecessary risk of chemical agent exposure; that in order to make up time for all the incinerator's delays, workers are being asked to cut corners on safety.

So yes, let's get on with it. Let's support non-incineration chemical weapons technologies that offer greater protection to workers and the surrounding community.

Charly Schindler