For Immediate Release: Monday,
February 6, 2006
FY 2007 BUDGET DOCUMENTS SHOW TEN FOLD INCREASE IN FUNDING REQUEST
FOR CW DISPOSAL IN CO AND KY OVER EARLIER ESTIMATES
President's Request Seeks Over $300 Million for ACWA* Program
After a year of unrelenting efforts
to ensure full funding of the U.S. chemical demilitarization program, citizens
groups are pleased that the President's 2007 budget request for chemical
weapons disposal in Colorado and Kentucky - which the Pentagon had cut to
just $33 million - now stands at almost $350 million.
Budget justification documents,
obtained by the Chemical Weapons Working Group (CWWG), reflect the details
of the Pentagon reversal in plans for both disposal facilities.
In January 2005 the CWWG released internal Defense
Department papers exposing the Pentagon's intention to gut the Colorado
and Kentucky projects, using the funds to pay for cost overruns at other
chemical weapons disposal facilities. Those documents showed a long-term
plan that would have resulted in continuing to store over 880,000 weapons
for at least 5 additional years before beginning construction of disposal
facilities.
The Pentagon's budget plan was met with overwhelming
opposition in Colorado and Kentucky, and from other chemical weapons stockpile
sites that feared transportation of Colorado and Kentucky's chemical weapons
to their sites to be destroyed. Local, state and federal elected officials
rallied behind the citizens' call for adequate funding, resulting in legislative
action in Washington, spearheaded by Senators McConnell (R-KY) and Allard
(R-CO).
"Today, we took another important step toward the
safe disposal of the chemical weapons stockpile at the Blue Grass Army Depot,"
said McConnell. "I am pleased to see the Department of Defense (DOD)
took my advice and included sufficient funding for ACWA in the budget."
Included in 2007's $350 million figure is $46 Million
for Program Management; $175 Million for Kentucky and $129 Million for Colorado.
The funds are divided between Research and Development and Construction funds,
both necessary to move forward with the disposal projects.
Pueblo, Colorado citizen and Citizens Advisory Committee
member Ross Vincent said, "With strong citizen involvement and unprecedented
unity from the grassroots base to Washington DC, we were able to turn the
tide, and re-prioritize our nation's commitment to chemical demilitarization."
CWWG Director Craig Williams noted, "We've witnessed
a unique victory. To turn a Pentagon decision of this magnitude around
in a little over a year's time…well, it doesn't usually happen."
"People owe a debt of gratitude to their elected
officials, especially Senators McConnell and Allard, for their responsiveness
and focus on protecting these communities," Williams added.
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copies of the budget documents can be obtained from the CWWG office on
request
* ACWA: Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives - Army Program overseeing
CW disposal in Colorado and Kentucky.
