Groups Meet to Discuss
Non-Stockpile Chemical Weapons
(The following is excerpted from the September 1997 issue of "Common Sense", the newsletter of the Chemical Weapons Working Group, published by the Kentucky Environmental Foundation.)
On July 9, representatives from the Chemical Weapons Working Group met in Pueblo, Colorado with representatives of the Army's Non-Stockpile Chemical Munitions Program. The purpose of the meeting was to obtain information on the status of the program, possible munitions disposal technologies and the public affairs plan, and give input back to the Army. Non-stockpile chemical munitions are miscellaneous warfare weapons and other materiel which are not currently part of the chemical weapons stockpile. These munitions, consisting of old weapons such bombs and landmines, ton containers of chemical agent, and chemical agent identification sets are scattered across over 200 locations at 65 sites in 31 states.
Disposal of non-stockpile weapons has been a 'hot' issue for years in some parts of the country. Open detonation of non-stockpile weapons in Maryland, Utah and elsewhere has put nearby communities at risk of exposure to harmful chemical agents. At other sites, buried unstable munitions and chemical agent identification sets have been discovered in neighborhoods and parks. But now, through an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) the Army must identify strategies by which allnon- stockpile materiel can be recovered and destroyed. Therefore, it was important that citizens come together to identify issues on a programmatic level. Some of the issues discussed at the meeting were: roles and responsibilities of the Non-Stockpile Program, the Army Corps of Engineers and other players in military toxic clean-up; laws affecting non-stockpile weapons disposal; the scope of the Environmental Impact Statement; environmental justice; disposal technologies; and components of the public outreach/involvement program.
By law, the Army must solicit public comment on the EIS. The NSCMP held regional scoping meetings last winter, and invited written comments on the program. Fortunately, the NSCMP Public Affairs office has recognized the need for further outreach and involvement from community members. "We hope the non-stockpile program has learned an important lesson from the history of the chemical weapons stockpile program: that including citizens in the decision making from the beginning will lead to the safest, fastest disposal of these weapons," said Kentucky Environmental Foundation (KEF) representative Elizabeth Crowe. Robert Ukeiley, with the Ecological Consultants for the Public Interest, was encouraged by the meeting. "If the Army is willing to work with citizens in choosing disposal strategies and technologies, we should be able to come up with a win-win scenario."
Both the Army and grassroots representatives at the meeting committed to continuing the dialogue by sharing information and ideas and holding more roundtable format meetings. The group has begun planning for a meeting in October to be held in Utah, and hopes to recruit more grassroots participants. In addition to touring some disposal technology facilities, the October meeting agenda will include further discussion and development of a public involvement program. If you would like more information on the non-stockpile program, please contact Elizabeth Crowe at the KEF office at (606) 986-0868.
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