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ASENAL COMMANDER SEEKS TO REPLACE 650 JOBS AFTER DEMILITARIZATION

By Ezra Mann/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Wednesday, January 23, 2008 10:03 AM CST

Though the Pine Bluff Arsena'’s current mission to demilitarize the chemical weapons stockpile will end no later than 2012, options are being explored to retain the approximate 650 jobs that would be vacant after the project is over, Col. William Barnett, commander of the arsenal, told the Pine Bluff Rotary Club on Tuesday.

Before incineration began in March 2005, the arsenal stored 12 percent of the nation's stockpiled chemical weapons. Disposal of chemical weapons began with the GM M55 rockets and the last one was destroyed in March 2007.

Currently, nerve agent VX is being destroyed. To date, 14,712 VX rockets and 142,205 pounds of agent have been eliminated, according to an update from the Pine Bluff Chemical Agent Disposal Facility.

Barnett said that the main concern is finding a way to replace about 300 of the 650 federal government positions after the stockpile is eliminated. The other 350 jobs are contracted through Washington Demilitarization Co., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Washington Group International, which was acquired by URS Corp. in the fall.

He added that 10 new lines of production would need to be put in place of the vacancy and that the arsenal serves as a business that has a plan to go with its mission

"It's good to have a mission, but it's better to have a plan and we want to make sure people know that we are aware that 2012 is right around the corner," Barnett said.

The main functions of the arsenal include ammunition production and chemical and biological defense equipment production. Barnett said he believes that the major functions of the arsenal can be expanded and that the economic possibilities could include a new business that could move in to make sure the jobs remain in Jefferson County.

Barnett said that he could not elaborate on the potential customers, however, he believes that most facilities at the arsenal can still be used or converted to other uses. He said that it is important to him to continue the 62-year tradition of the arsenal and that as soon as customers who need the services can be identified, the capabilities and lifespan of the arsenal will only improve.