136th Year... and
still on the job!
Tuesday September 19,
2004
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136th Year... and
still on the job!
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Tuesday September 19,
2004
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Pueblo Chemical Depot fireman Thor Bennedsen (second from right) and James D. Bates (right) representing employees past and present, applaud after they unveil a plaque dedicating the Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant during a ceremony Saturday at Hoag Hall at Colorado State University-Pueblo. Also pictured are Gary Anderson (left) plant site project manager, and Michael Parker, program manager of the Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives |
The Pueblo Chemical Depot took a big step toward destroying its stockpile of mustard agent munitions Saturday with a well-attended groundbreaking open house for the Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant.
The event, held at Colorado State University-Pueblo, was "a very significant step on a long, long journey to that end point," said Michael Parker, program manager for the Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives. The federal agency oversees chemical weapon stockpile destruction.
"This is a very festive occasion," said County Commissioner John Klomp to an audience in Hoag Hall. "This day is a long awaited celebration for the community."
The official groundbreaking ceremony was held at the depot on Thursday. Saturday was the public's opportunity to share in the monumental occasion and learn about the process of bringing the $1.5 billon plant east of Pueblo.
Pat Wakefield, deputy assistant to the secretary of defense, chemical demilitarization and threat reduction said: "This is indeed an exciting time for the chemical weapons community."
Klomp, along with County Commission Chairwoman Loretta Kennedy, Senator Wayne Allard, U.S. Rep. Scott McInnis, R-Colo., and other speakers, thanked each other for their cooperation.
But much of the praise went to the community.
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Puebloam Fay Kastelic talks Saturday about her involvement with the citizen's advisory group that spent several years helping governmental agencies decide how to destroy chemical weapons stored at the Pueblo Chemical Depot. |
"I trust the citizens of Pueblo County . . . I thank them for their participation on deciding on how to destroy the weapons," said Fay Kastelic, founder of the Chemical Demilitarization Citizens Advisory Committee.
"The voice of the community was heard loud and clear by our congressional leaders," said Klomp, who also serves as CAC chairman.
Initial construction phases of the Pilot Plant will begin in the near future. They include developing the land, roads, underground utilities and support areas for the duration of the project.
Bechtel National Inc. won the Department of Defense's bid to build the plant, which will use neutralization followed by biotreatment to destroy chemical weapons, in March 2003.
McInnis hopes that as Bechtel partners with Pueblo, the relationship stays true and honest.
"We do have a partnership, putting that partnership up is the easy part,” McInnis said. "Pueblo adopts a good neighbor policy and we want our partner to be good neighbors . . . and stick with us because we have a tough road ahead."
Allard said chemical weapons containing 2,611 tons of mustard agent originally were kept at the Pueblo Chemical Depot for deterrence, but never used. Given the events of 9/11, Pueblo is at risk because of its stockpile and the destruction of the weapons is of great concern.
"With 8.5 percent of the stockpile here in Pueblo we knew that the thought of an attack was greater," he said.
Howard Roitman, director of Environmental Programs for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment thanked the depot, Pueblo and all the associated agencies for their efforts for deciding on an environmentally friendly means of destroying the weapons.
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Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., speaks at Hoag Hall Saturday on the weapons destruction effort at Pueblo Chemical Depot. |
Bechtel project manager Michael Lewis expressed his thanks for the opportunity and said he looks forward to working with Pueblo on the construction.
The open house honored current and former employees of the depot. Lt. Col. John Becker, depot commander, recognized the careers of several longtime civilians, many of whom were in attendance, such as Sam Corsentino, Ruben Rodriquez and Harold Day.
A large black plaque was unveiled at the ceremony, and emcee Gary Anderson, Pilot Plant site project manager read to the audience that the Pilot Plant will be dedicated to the men and women who have served at the depot. The plaque will be placed at the plant's entrance.
Becker said that while the depot's main mission has been to protect the weapons over the last five decades, it now tacks on the responsibility of destroying them.
"The legacy of our past becomes the foundation to our successful future," Becker said.
