Defense Environment Alert
an exclusive biweekly report on defense policies
for cleanup, compliance and pollution prevention
Vol. 11, No. 24--December 2, 2003
SENATORS TRY TO STEER OFF FUNDING MANEUVER IN CHEM DEMIL PROGRAM
Colorado and Kentucky senators are attempting to thwart a possible effort
by the Defense Department to shift funding from emerging chemical demilitarization
facilities in their states to pay for shortfalls and cost overruns at other
disposal sites.
Kentucky Sens. Jim Bunning (R) and Mitch McConnell (R) and Colorado Sens.
Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R) and Wayne Allard (R) sent a letter late last
month to acting DOD acquisition chief Michael W. Wynne, requesting the Pentagon
fully fund all of the disposal sites, rather than lower the priority for
the Kentucky and Colorado sites.
The two sites are the last in a line of nine locations where stockpiled chemical
weapons will be destroyed. Both sites are part of the Assembled Chemical
Weapons Alternatives (ACWA) program, where DOD evaluated and chose alternative
destruction methods to its traditional incineration program. The letter is
available on InsideEPA. com. See page 2 for details.
The Nov. 21 letter says the senators are "specifically concerned that plans
may be underway to severely cut the budgets at these two sites in fiscal
year 2004, and possibly further into the future, in order to make up for
financial shortfalls and cost overruns within the program at other disposal
sites." The chemical weapons destruction program has long been criticized
for spiraling costs, which are now expected to exceed $25 billion, and schedule
slippages that are now pushing the final destruction date for the weapons
past that allowed under an international treaty.
The senators ask for a clarification on this alleged proposal and a justification
for slowing down demilitarization in their states. They note the progress
that has been made at these two sites, saying contracts have been awarded
and the design and permitting processes are underway.
"Funding cuts now would erode the goodwill that ACWA!s efforts have earned
in our communities during this period," they write.
Further, they take umbrage with any plan to fast-track disposal at some sites,
due to increased security concerns in the post 9/11 period, while not at
others. "Given the lingering environmental and security concerns, the Department
should focus on hastening disposal at all of America's stockpiles. We urge
you fully fund these programs to ensure that disposal at all sites is executable
as soon as possible."
DOD sources could not be reached for comment.