Cost overruns threaten Chemical Depot timetable

By JOHN NORTON
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN

One of the concerns local officials have had about the destruction of chemical weapons here has been what will happen to all those skilled workers when it ends in 10 years or so.

They may not have to worry that soon.

The big concern now among members of the demilitarization project's Citizens’ Advisory Commission is that funding for the work could be reduced or even cut next year, putting off completion and the departure of the Army that would open the base for commercial development.

That was the warning relayed at Wednesday night's meeting of the commission by member Ross Vincent. And Bill Pehlivanian, deputy project manager for the Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives program, said that the Department of Defense wants "design alternatives" for the programs in Pueblo and Blue Grass, Ky., another weapons destruction site.

Pehlivanian assured the group that those alternatives would not include going back to incineration, the Army's original plan that was strongly opposed by the local community.

Vincent, who represents the local chapter of the Sierra Club on the commission, distributed an article from the Chemical Weapons Working Group, an advocacy group that opposes incineration, that blamed cost overruns at other demil projects using incineration for the budget problems that are jeopardizing work in Pueblo and Blue Grass.

Pueblo County Commissioner John Klomp, who chairs the advisory commission, will be traveling to Washington this weekend to meet with ACWA officials who are working on the alternative designs.

He didn't disagree with the claim that spending problems elsewhere were to blame but he also speculated that the war in Iraq and other unexpected military expenditures had something to do with the sudden decision to reevaluate the demilitarization program.

He'll also be carrying with him a strongly worded resolution from the commission introduced by citizen member Irene Kornelly. The resolution says the commission is opposed to any change in the Pueblo timetable, asks why a project that was ordered to be accelerated after the 9/11 attacks now faces delays, requests assistance from Colorado's Congressional delegation and asks Dale Klein, assistant secretary of defense on nuclear and chemical and biological defense programs attend the next CAC meeting.

Pehlivanian said that funding for the current year was secure and that design work by the Bechtel team would go ahead.

John Schlatter, of Bechtel, said that of the 393 people working on the project, 28 are based in Pueblo and 11 are Puebloans hired for the project.

Michelle Jacobus, who handles the contractor outreach program, said that of the $3.1 million spent on contracts and purchases, one third has gone to Pueblo contractors. Bechtel also recently brought on an intern, Colorado State University-Pueblo marketing student Tony Arellano, to work with her in the recruiting of local vendors and contractors.