138th Year... and still on the job!	Tuesday February 13, 2007

Gates seeks chem demil budget boost

The defense secretary says programs in Pueblo and Kentucky need an additional $54 million to destroy chemical weapons.

By JOHN NORTON
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN

The secretary of defense has revised his budget request for weapons destruction programs in Pueblo and Kentucky, asking for another $54 million in the 2008 federal budget.

Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., reported Monday that Defense Secretary Robert Gates had decided to ask for more than the original $297 million in the White House request after contacts from Allard's office and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

Officials of the Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives program, which is handling the Pueblo Chemical Depot and Blue Grass Army Depot programs, had been told last year to expect no more than $150 million annually for each facility for the duration of the program.

John Klomp, chairman of the Colorado Chemical Demilitarization Citizens Advisory Commission, said the new budget request "is absolutely good news."

Klomp said that any increase in funding will help get the program established and help shield it from further cuts such as those experienced two years ago.

"The real issue now is accelerating the construction to the point where the project is safely moving forward," Klomp said.

Sean Conway, Allard's chief of staff, cautioned that it still was early in the budget process, although Conway said he was optimistic that House members would support the funding.

"We've made the case that this is a national program," Conway said. "This chemical weapons treaty is an obligation that this country made and it needs to be honored."

The Pueblo Chemical Depot has a stockpile of 2,611 tons of mustard agent in mortar rounds and artillery shells, while Blue Grass has 523 tons of mustard and nerve agent inside weapons.

Both destruction facilities will use water neutralization to break down the chemicals.