Construction at Blue Grass Depot
might finally become reality
By:
Bob Flynn
Construction
on a new chemical weapons disposal plant at the Blue Grass Army Depot could
begin as soon as April, officials said.
Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass, the contractor chosen by the Department of Defense
to build the proposed Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant,
announced last week the company is seeking bids on an "earthwork subcontract"
for the plant.
The subcontract would include site clearing and construction of a new two-lane
asphalt road with connections to existing roads.
Craig Williams, director of the Berea-based Chemical Weapons Working Group,
said the announcement is "very significant."
"For the first time in 20 years, people will be able to drive out to Irvine
Road and actually see some dirt being moved," Williams said. "It is exciting
and extremely rewarding to have years of sometimes frustrating and often
intangible efforts to ensure a safe process and adequate funding for destruction
of our weapons stockpile, to finally see results in the form of dirt being
moved and roads being built."
Although Bechtel Parsons is advertising for bids from subcontractors, the
project still must be approved and has yet to receive federal funding.
Williams said he is confident the project is in good enough shape to be funded,
thanks in part to the work of several other Central Kentucky agencies and
Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell.
Last year, the Pentagon pulled all funding from the Kentucky project and
recommended the site be placed in "caretaker status" for five years, even
though the government had established a goal of having all stored chemical
weapons destroyed by 2012.
Williams said McConnell was instrumental in getting a bill passed that released
money to continue the Blue Grass Depot project.
"This is truly a welcome and important step," Williams said. "It shows how
effective local engagement can be when everyone works together."
According to the Bechtel Parsons Web site, the firm was hired to design,
build, systemize, test, operate and close a $2 billion full-scale pilot plant.
The plant is designed to safely destroy the chemical weapons stockpile at
the Blue Grass Army Depot, located between Richmond and Berea.
The chemical weapons stockpile is comprised of 523 tons of blister agent
in projectiles and nerve agent in projectiles and rockets.
Contrary to popular belief, the agents are not gases. In their original form,
they are liquids.
The Bechtel Parsons timeline calls for the facility's design to be 60 percent
complete by 2006, construction finished by 2007, pilot testing done by 2009
and for the plant to be fully operational by 2012 with the plant closed by
2014.
Reach Bob at
bobby_flynn2@eku.edu