City to pass ordinance banning chemical
transport
By Kasey
Doyle/News editor
Transportation
of chemical weapons through Richmond city limits may not be an option for
the Blue Grass Army Depot. The Richmond City Commission passed the first reading
of an ordinance to ban transport of chemical weapons within city limits Tuesday
night.
Robert Blythe, member of the Richmond City Commission and professor of mathematics
at Eastern, said the commission determined moving the weapons was not the
safest option.
"We do not support moving the weapons," Blythe said.
According to a press release from the U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency,
the Army received official direction from the Department of Defense to consider
and evaluate the relocation of the chemical weapons stockpile across the
United States. The Department of Defense also directed the Army to investigate
and develop other alternatives, including evaluating relocation options.
The reason for these evaluations is to develop alternatives to achieve an
April 2012 deadline for the 100 percent destruction of the U.S. chemical
stockpile.
The Blue Grass Army Depot is facing possible delays in the disposal of the
chemical weapons due to substantial funding cuts within George W. Bush's
preliminary 2005 fiscal budget.
The budget cuts would delay the construction of a plant to chemically neutralize
the 523 tons of decaying blister and nerve agents at the depot. The Department
of Defense has directed the Army to study alternatives to dispose of the
weapons. One of these alternatives is to transport the chemical weapons to
another incineration plant.
The closest plant is in Anniston, Ala., which is about 380 miles from Richmond.
A report by the Associated Press stated Anniston could be a logical destination
for weapons now stored in Kentucky.
"I'm a little disappointed that this is even a consideration at this stage
of the game," Blythe said. He said several years ago the Army indicated moving
the materials was not safe.
The Madison County fiscal court and the city of Berea have also discussed
passing ordinances similar to the one developed by the city of Richmond,
Blythe said.
Michael Bryant, director of the Chemical
Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program, said the Army has discussed plans
to build an entrance and exit ramp at Duncannon Lane to Interstate 75 in
order to avoid passing through Richmond city limits.
The United States is part of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which is an
international treaty that calls for the destruction of all chemical weapon
stockpiles.
The United States is supposed to have 45 percent of the chemicals destroyed
by April 29. The 100 percent destruction deadline is April 29, 2007, but
the United States received an extension last year that moved the date to
Dec. 31, 2007, its 45 percent destruction deadline.
According to the CMA press release, it is expected the government will apply
for a one-time, five year overall destruction deadline of April 29, 2012.
A major consideration for passing the ordinance is the threat of terrorist
attacks, Blythe said. Exposing the weapons and moving them from where they
are securely stored is unsafe and makes the weapons a prime target for terrorists.
Blythe also said the federal government could have the last word, despite
the decision to ban transport of the chemicals by the City of Richmond.
"Obviously we're disappointed," Bryant said, but he said the mission of CSEPP
is to protect the people of Madison County no matter what the Army decides
to do.
Reach Kasey at
kasey_doyle7@eku.edu