Eastern Progress
April 4, 2003

Depot working to inform about weapons disposal

By Alisha Hockensmith/Assistant News editor
The Blue Grass Army Depot held a forum March 24 to introduce the community to the current status on the contract to dispose of the chemical weapons stockpile.

One of the main purposes of the forum was to gain input from the community and what level of participation they would like to see in the future for the destruction of the weapons.

"(It was) sort of a get acquainted type thing," said Blue Grass Army Depot Public Affairs Officer Dave Easter.

The forum covered various stages the Depot and community will have to go through in order to keep moving forward during disposal.

Matters discussed included the contract to dispose of the weapons, what will be contained in the proposal and how it will be evaluated.

The proposal is expected to be received by the end of the month and a contract is expected to be awarded in June, according to Chemical Weapons Working Group Director Craig Williams. Various ways to accelerate the process were also discussed.

If support buildings, laboratories and decontamination facilities are under way before a contract is issued it will speed up the process, Williams said.

The public's future involvement was discussed in detail and an Oversight Board was proposed. The board would be a way to keep the public involved.

Who will sit on the board is still being decided, but another public meeting will be held to keep the community informed.

The Blue Grass Army Depot held a forum March 24 to inform the public about the current status of disposing of chemical weapons. The Depot also is looking at appointing an Oversight Board to keep people up-to-date.