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Craig Williams 859-986-7565
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EMBARGOED until 9:00 a.m. Wednesday 6 May 2009

KENTUCKY/COLORADO CHEMICAL WEAPONS DISPOSAL BUDGET REQUEST FOR 2010 UP $250 MILLION FROM EARLIER PROJECTIONS
Pentagon Makes Good on Commitment to McConnell to Fund Acceleration of
Demilitarization Project

In dramatic fashion, the Pentagon stepped up and delivered on commitments made to Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) last December to fully fund the Chemical Weapons disposal projects in Kentucky and Colorado. Known as the Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (ACWA), these two efforts have been the misguided target of funding cuts for many years, slowing progress towards eliminating the risks associated with the weapons and undermining the United States' commitments under an international treaty, the Chemical Weapons Convention.

Today it was reported that the 2010 budget request for ACWA went up from a projected $300.4 million to $550.4 million, an increase of 83%. Indications are that the subsequent year's funding will also increase substantially from previous predictions in order to continue accelerating the projects.

Since the decision on what technology to use at the ACWA sites was made in 2003 there have been repeated efforts by some Pentagon officials to undercut the ACWA budget. 

"It got so bad in 2005 that the Kentucky and Colorado projects were put on 'caretaker status' meaning no funds were available to move forward towards disposal," said Craig Williams, Chemical Weapons Working Group director.

Repeated efforts by the Kentucky and Colorado Congressional delegations, spearheaded by McConnell, have kept the program funded at levels needed to make some progress, but now a more vigorous effort can be made to destroy the weapons.

In 2007, Congress mandated that all chemical weapons be destroyed by 2017 - five years beyond the extended treaty deadline. At the funding levels projected by the Pentagon prior to this shift, that date would have been missed by six years, pushing completion out to 2023.

"The current projected funding levels pull that date back by 3 years," said Williams.  

Senator Mitch McConnell said, "Once the acceleration options are implemented, I expect even more time can be cut from the schedule to bring it into compliance with the 2017 Congressional deadline "

ACWA and its contractors, along with the Citizens Advisory Commissions continue to look at additional ways to expedite the demilitarization mission at both locations while ensuring safety to the work-force and the communities surrounding the stockpiles.

Representative Ben Chandler (D-KY) said, "With this funding we can move the time-line forward, bringing about a faster resolution to the destruction of the chemical weapons stockpile. This is a big win for the people of Madison County and the surrounding communities."

"Additionally, and importantly, increased funding in the near term, resulting in a shorter schedule, will save almost a billion dollars over the life of the projects at these two sites," said Williams.

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