Pentagon Completes Five-Year
Funding Projections for Chem Weapons Disposal Projects
CHEMICAL
WEAPONS WORKING GROUP
128 Main
St. Berea KY 40403
859-986-9868
859-986-2695 (F)
www.cwwg.org kefcwwg@cwwg.org
for
additional information contact:
Craig Williams - (859) 986-7565 (859) 302-1103
for immediate release Thursday August 24, 2006
Craig Williams - (859) 986-7565 (859) 302-1103
for immediate release Thursday August 24, 2006
PENTAGON COMPLETES FIVE-YEAR FUNDING
PROJECTIONS FOR CHEM WEAPONS DISPOSAL PROJECTS
KY and CO to Share Approximately $300 Million Per Year for
Each of the Next Five Years - Up from a $30 Million Projection 18 Months Ago
KY and CO to Share Approximately $300 Million Per Year for
Each of the Next Five Years - Up from a $30 Million Projection 18 Months Ago
Yesterday, the Pentagon's Defense Acquisition Board (DAB) laid down the future years' spending profile for the U.S. Army's chemical demilitarization program, including projected budget levels for the two yet-to-be-built facilities in Kentucky and Colorado.
According to the Army Program Office, the anticipated funding over the next five years for these sites will be approximately $300 million for each for the next five years.
Just 18 months ago, the Chemical Weapons Working Group (CWWG) learned that the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, who is the decision maker on this program, had plugged in a mere $30 million per year until 2010, and placed both sites on a "care-taker" status. This action, had it been carried out, would have caused activities at both sites to come to a halt and pushed the completion date for disposal out well past 2020.
Upon learning of the Pentagon's intentions, Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell authored a letter, co-signed by other Members of the Kentucky and Colorado Congressional delegation, to the Undersecretary in April of this year urging adequate funding in the "out-years" in order to move forward with disposal efforts at both locations. Then McConnell, along with other Members, pushed for increased funding and was successful in increasing the 2007 budget request to over $300 million. In addition, McConnell took the lead in having funds earmarked for Kentucky and Colorado restricted from being used at other sites - a ploy used previously to make up for cost overruns at other locations.
"The numbers coming out of the DAB review are most welcome and reassuring," said Craig Williams, Director of the CWWG. "It appears that the efforts at the local and state levels and on Capitol Hill have translated into action at the Pentagon," he said. "Apparently they have heard our arguments and have taken heed."
Preliminary construction (roads, utilities, etc.) has begun at both sites. Construction of the actual disposal buildings and associated support facilities are scheduled to begin early this winter.
"This new posture of recognizing the need to adequately fund these projects, if reflected in the upcoming budget requests, will ensure steady progress towards ridding ourselves of these dangerous weapons," said Williams. "Citizens have lived in the shadow of these for far too long."
A ground-breaking ceremony is scheduled at the Blue Grass Army Depot for October 28th.
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