Defense Environment Alert 10/19/04

Defense Environment Alert

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

Vol. 12, No. 21--October 19, 2004

KENTUCKY CITIZEN'S BOARD PRESSES FOR FULL CHEMICAL DESTRUCTION BUDGET

A Kentucky governor-appointed citizens' advisory commission is urging its congressional delegation and senior state government officials to press the Pentagon to request full funding for the chemical weapons destruction program, particularly the facility being developed in Kentucky.

In response, the office of Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who has long scrutinized the military over its management of chemical demilitarization, issued a statement signaling his continued vigilance over the program and advocacy for quick disposal. "As the author of legislation which led to the selection of an alternative to incineration [at the Kentucky site], you can be sure [McConnell] will do everything in his power to hold the Pentagon accountable and ensure that the stockpile is eliminated as quickly as possible," his office says.

The citizens' appeal stems from recent DOD actions to halt certain design work for a Colorado chemical weapons destruction facility, which the commission says portends similar spending cuts at the Kentucky plant.

The Kentucky Chemical Demilitarization Citizen's Advisory Commission (CAC) and an independent subcommittee of the group Oct. 12 wrote letters to the state's congressional delegation, as well as Gov. Ernie Fletcher and senior state lawmakers, warning of the possible cuts. The CAC advises DOD on chemical weapons destruction for the Blue Grass, KY, chemical weapons stockpile.

At issue is whether planned funding for the Kentucky program will be diverted by DOD and the Army to pay for funding needs at other chemical demilitarization facilities.

In support of their arguments, the citizens cite the recent decision by the Pentagon to suspend design work for processing buildings to be built as part of the Pueblo, CO, chemical demilitarization facility, and the cuts DOD has, in part, successfully made to that program. The Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (ACWA) program Sept. 30 announced a nine-month suspension of design work for Pueblo's processing buildings "while the project team conducts trade studies to examine design alternatives that could reduce project costs," an ACWA press release says. While DOD sought to cut the Pueblo program from $152 million to $5 million in fiscal year 2005, Congress reprogrammed $50 million back.

The citizens say various DOD memoranda indicate the department may take similar actions at the Kentucky site. "Given the recent cessation of design work in Colorado, it is very likely that Kentucky's funding may be cut severely, or even eliminated, in fiscal year 2006 and beyond unless action is taken," according to the letter from the subcommittee. Kentucky is the only other facility that falls under the DOD-supervised ACWA program; the Army oversees the other facilities.

While defense officials for many years have repeatedly pointed out that the risk of continuing to store the weapons exceeds that related to disposal, they have failed to place a high priority on the program, particularly the ACWA sites, the letter says. They note this lack of priority continues even as the threat of theft is heightened "as we fight the war on terrorism."

They argue for full funding of the entire chemical demilitarization program, asking the congressional and state officials "to send a clear message to the Acting Undersecretary of Defense [for Acquisition, Technology, & Logistics], Mr. Micheal Wynne, to submit a budget to Congress for 2006 and beyond that will provide the funds necessary to complete the chemical weapons destruction program nationally and especially the project in Kentucky," Relevant documents are availible on InsideEPA.com. See page 2 for details.