Defense Environment Alert

Vol. 14, No. 3--February 7, 2006

DOD FY07 BUDGET SEEKS SLIGHT INCREASE FOR CHEMICAL DEMILITARIZATION

As part of its fiscal year 2007 budget request, the Defense Department is seeking $1.4 billion for chemical weapons demilitarization, a slight increase. The request includes $350 million in dedicated funding for the Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (ACWA) program that activists have long urged the military to aggressively support, according to budget documents released by DOD on Feb. 6 and sources following the issue.

Citizen groups are applauding DOD's decision to ask Congress for dedicated ACWA funding, according to one citizen activist. The ACWA program uses non-incineration methods for destroying chemical weapons stockpiles at the Army's Kentucky and Colorado weapons destruction sites.

In a long-term boost to the ACWA program, the DOD documents also announce the FY07 budget commits to spending another $1.2 billion over the next five years primarily to pay for construction and development efforts at the two alternative destruction sites.

Each service received a boost from last year's environmental restoration appropriation, with the Army receiving $413.7 million, the Navy getting $304.4 million, and the Air Force $423.8 million. The DOD account shrunk slightly, to $18.4 million, while the Formerly Used Defense Sites environmental restoration budget decreased by several million to $242.7 million.