CWWG

"Secretary Rumsfeld Says U.S. Won't Meet Chem Weapons Treaty Deadline Extension

Chemical Weapons Working Group
128 Main St. Berea KY 40403
859-986-7565  859-986-2695 (F)
www.cwwg.org  craig@cwwg.org

for more information contact:
Craig Williams: 859-986-7565
 or   859-302-1103
for immediate release: Wednesday, April 12, 2006


SECRETARY RUMSFELD SAYS U.S. WON'T MEET
CHEMICAL WEAPONS TREATY DEADLINE EXTENSION

Defense Secretary Estimates 66% Destruction By April 2012

The Chemical Weapons Working Group (CWWG) has obtained a letter from the Secretary of Defense, dated 10 April 2006, confirming that the U.S. will not meet the extended deadline for complete destruction of the U.S. stockpile of chemical weapons.  The letter was sent to leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services committees.   The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) was ratified by the United States in 1997.  Its initial deadline for weapons destruction is April 2007, however the CWC provides for a one time 5-year extension to 2012 should countries party to the Treaty require that additional time.

Secretary Rumsfeld now states that even this deadline will not be met.  According to the Secretary, "I have determined that the United States will not be able to meet even the extended destruction deadline."  The letter goes on to state letter goes on to say, "Current estimates indicate approximately 66 percent of the declared chemical weapons stockpile will be destroyed by April 2012." The Secretary notes that every effort will be made to complete destruction as close to the April 2012 deadline as possible, but this is the first time the Department of Defense (DoD) has publicly stated reservation regarding fulfilling this international requirement.

 The Russian Federation, the possessor of even greater quantities of chemical weapons than the U.S. (approximately 40,000 tons) has indicated they will not meet the original 2007 deadline, but maintain the 2012 date is achievable.

CWWG Director, Craig Williams said, "We are not surprised that the U.S. will not meet the 2012 deadline; a review of the Pentagon's 2007 budget submission for chemical weapons disposal back in February 2006 indicated that the extended deadline could not be met.  However we are surprised at how quickly after this budget submission DoD is admitting the problem."

According to the schedules contained in the budget documents, three of the four incineration sites (Alabama, Arkansas and Oregon) will not make the 2012 deadline.  Although their schedules for completion are not noted in the budget documents, two additional sites using alternative disposal technologies (Colorado and Kentucky) are also not expected to make the extended deadline.  Destruction is complete at two sites--in Maryland and on Johnston Island in the Pacific--and the sites in Utah and Indiana are expected to make the 2012 deadline.

Williams added, "Historically the Department has not been willing to provide accurate completion dates, so we are glad to see this level of candor from DoD.  The CWWG is committed to continue to work with DoD, the Army, Congress and communities to address issues which may cause further delays, and promote solutions for the safe, expeditious weapons disposal."
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Contact us:
Chemical Weapons Working Group
Kentucky Environmental Foundation
P.O. Box 467
Berea, KY 40403
phone: 859-986-7565
fax: 859-986-2695


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