Article Published: Wednesday, June 30, 2004

Pueblo depot gets enough funds to start cleanup

By Mike Soraghan
Denver Post Washington Bureau

Washington - It's a third of what was expected, but the Senate has approved enough funding for the Pueblo Chemical Depot to allow construction to begin this year on a plant to neutralize chemical weapons.

The Pueblo depot, which stores 2,600 tons of mustard gas, had expected to receive $151.6 million for fiscal 2005, which begins in October. The Bush administration had proposed $4.9 million, which would have delayed construction for at least a year.

But the Senate last week approved $50 million in the defense appropriations bill for the depot cleanup. The $50 million represents the minimum amount to keep the project going as planned. It still requires approval from a joint House-Senate committee.