for more information:
Craig Williams (859) 986-7565
Elizabeth Crowe (859) 986-0868
for immediate release: Sunday, December 29 , 2002
The Pentagon has published a "Notice Of Availability" of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Destruction of Chemical Agents and Munitions at the Blue Grass Army Depot (BGAD) in the Federal Register. The Notice identifies ".... neutralization followed by supercritical water oxidation as the agency's preferred alternative for the destruction of chemical munitions at BGAD.".
On November 20, 2002, the Deputy Sec. of Defense signed a memorandum identifying this approach as preferred, now, with the publication of this Notice, Kentucky is a step closer to the final decision.
The Notice triggers a mandatory 30 day waiting period before the "Record of Decision" (ROD) can become official. The waiting period will end on January 26, 2003, anytime after which the ROD could be signed by the Defense Acquisition Executive, Mr. Edward Aldridge.
"This brings us closer to finally ending the incineration debate," said Craig Williams, Director of the Berea based Kentucky Environmental Foundation. "We've got one more step to go before contracts can be put out to move forward with neutralizing the chemical weapons stored here in Kentucky to safely rid ourselves of the risks associated with these materials."
In 1984 the Army announced its intention to incinerate the weapons stored at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Richmond. But local citizen and political opposition to burning such deadly material forced the Army to consider alternative methods of disposal. The local resistance was joined by Senators McConnell and Ford and later by Senator Bunning once in office. Through the period all of Kentucky's Representatives also opposed incineration, along with Kentucky's Governors and his Citizen's Advisory Commission. Legislation passed by Senator McConnell in 1996, led to alternative methods being identified as viable and now close to being implemented.
"Senator McConnell deserves a lot of credit for sticking by this community over the years," said Williams. "Without his consistent demands for the safest approach I believe the Army would have built an incinerator here - and with its track record at other sites that would have been a big mistake."
Incinerators in the Pacific and Utah have been plagued with problems since operations began in 1996. The Pacific facility finished burning weapons five years later than planned and the Utah incinerator even further behind schedule, is currently shut down.
Lawsuits by citizens groups opposed to burning have been filed at all incineration sites (AL, AR, OR & UT) to force the Army to install more controllable, safer neutralization technologies. Meanwhile, at the four non-incineration sites (CO, IN, KY & MD) citizens, the military and the regulatory agencies are working cooperatively on the disposal mission.
"We in Kentucky are fortunate that so many people insisted on safety as the number one issue," said Williams. "It's been a long haul, but the well-being of the public and the image of the region will benefit greatly because citizens demanded a better way."
Copies of the Federal Register Notice are available from the
KEF office upon request.
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