Defense Environment Alert
an exclusive biweekly report on defense policies for cleanup, compliance and pollution prevention


Vol. 13, No. 16--August 9, 2005



AMENDMENT SEEKS NEW COST ESTIMATE FOR CHEM WEAPONS PROGRAM

Senate supporters of the Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternative (ACWA) program are trying to force the Defense Department to update the lifecycle cost estimate for the program, which is using non-incineration methods to destroy stockpiled chemical munitions. The move follows criticism over DOD's self-imposed cost cap based on an original program cost number that ACWA proponents say largely underestimated the full cost.

Sens. Wayne Allard (R-CO) and Mitch McConnell (R-KY) want to attach an amendment to the pending fiscal year 2006 defense authorization bill that would require DOD to certify to Congress an updated and revised lifecycle cost estimate for the destruction of chemical weapons at the two ACWA sites. The estimates would be made upon completion of 60 percent of the design build at each of the sites, the amendment reads. The amendment is available on InsideEPA. com. See page 2 for details.

The amendment comes not long after Allard, McConnell and Sens. Ken Salazar (D-CO) and Jim Bunning (R-KY) urged the new DOD acquisition head to internally lift the self-imposed cost limits on the program (Defense Environment Alert, June 28, p 17). DOD included specific cost estimates in congressional certifications regarding the alternative destruction technologies chosen for the Army's Kentucky and Colorado destruction facilities, even though the law did not call for an exact cost number. Nonetheless, DOD inserted a cost figure that was "grossly underestimated" and relied on "outdated incineration costs," the citizens coalition Chemical Weapons Working Group (CWWG) has charged.

The four senators in a June 17 letter told DOD that forcing the program to adhere to these outdated cost estimates - $2 billion at the Kentucky site and $1.5 billion at the Colorado site - "is foolhardy since it risks sacrificing safety, treatment efficacy and schedule adherence." But DOD has defended its commitment to safety at the ACWA sites.

Allard submitted the amendment for inclusion in the Senate defense bill while the bill was being considered on the Senate floor in late July. The Senate had not yet voted on the amendment before it pulled the bill from the floor. The bill is expected to be taken up after the August recess.

CWWG, which backs non-incineration methods for destroying the Army's stockpiled chemical weapons, says the amendment would achieve two goals. First, "the ridiculous cost estimates contained in the 2003 certification will be trumped by more accurate and realistic projections for disposal projects at the ACWA sites," CWWG Executive Director Craig Williams says in a written response to questions. Second, "the Army agency responsible for disposal at the two sites will provide the estimates, not some Pentagon bureaucrats whose agenda has historically been to thwart the ACWA demilitarization effort."

Meanwhile, the Senate before recessing added an amendment to the defense authorization bill that would repeal congressional conditions placed on U.S. funding to aid Russia in destroying its chemical weapons stockpile. Restrictions would be lifted with regard to U.S. funding for construction of a chemical weapons destruction facility in Shchuch'ye, Russia.