for more information call:
Craig Williams 859-986-7565
for immediate release: Wednesday, August 28, 2002
Kentucky's senior senator visited Richmond today, the location of over 500 tons of deadly chemical warfare agents, with good news for the central Kentucky region. According to Senator Mitch McConnell, the decision on what technology should be used to destroy the material should be made by year's end.
McConnell, who sponsored legislation in 1996 forcing the Army to identify and demonstrate alternatives to incineration, had even better news for the community. "It looks as if a technology that is safer and more efficient than incineration will be used at Bluegrass," he said. The statement drew cheers from the citizens who gathered to show their appreciation for McConnell's efforts.
For over a decade, Central Kentuckians have worked with their federal elected officials, led by McConnell, to ensure that the safest chemical weapons disposal method be used. In June the Kentucky Citizens Advisory Commission recommended non-incineration technologies, and on July 11 the entire Kentucky Congressional delegation endorsed that recommendation.
"From the beginning, Kentucky has made it clear that it is skeptical of incinerating the stockpile of deadly weapons," said McConnell, "and I have the distinct honor of serving as the voice for the citizens of Kentucky."
Just last month McConnell was successful in getting a bill
through the Senate that would ensure that the program that proved
the alternatives are viable would actually manage the disposal
at the Kentucky site, rather than the Army incineration office.
He pointed out that the incineration office has consistently
been "hostile to the very notion of alternatives technologies."
Should they manage the Bluegrass program? "Not on your
life." was his answer.
McConnell spoke at a reception hosted by the Kentucky Environmental
Foundation, a Berea-based organization which heads up a national
coalition of community groups opposed to incinerating chemical
weapons. Its director, Craig Williams, welcomed McConnell to
the appreciation event by reading off a list of laws McConnell
has been responsible for, to ensure safe disposal.
Williams told McConnell, "When the Army said, 'There is no
other way,' you said, 'There has got to be - go out and find it.'
When the Army said, 'We have this program under adequate management
controls,' you said, 'The management of this program is not good
enough- go fix it.' And once the alternatives were proven, when
the Army said, 'The incineration office can execute non-incineration
technologies,' you said, 'Those more familiar and supportive of
the alternatives should implement them.' For your leadership
and continued efforts to protect Kentucky communities and Kentucky
families, we all thank you."
 CWWG Home Page |
Contact us: |