Richmond Register
February 13, 2003

Chemical weapons will be neutralized

The 523 tons of chemical weapons being stored at the Blue Grass Army Depot will be destroyed but not incinerated, U.S. Department of Defense officials said Wednesday.

The weapons will be destroyed by a neutralization method known as supercritical water oxidation.

While Wednesday's decision was not the Army's final "record of decision," a document that depot officials expect to be signed within the next two weeks, it does allow the process of procuring a contractor to commence and therefore allows the demilitarization of the weapons to finally begin.

"It's really not unexpected," County Judge-Executive Kent Clark said of the decision. "We had more or less stated what we wanted to do as far as representing the county."

Clark said one important element in the decision to neutralize is that this method keeps the majority of the work to be done in Madison County.

"We've all been very adamant about keeping as much work as possible right here in the county," Clark said. I believe with this process, 98 percent of the work can be done on site."

Clark said he expects the process of procuring a contractor to build the neutralization facility will begin immediately, and a contractor to be on board by June.

"I think everybody wants to accelerate this process," Clark said. "We want to get it done and out of here as quick as we can in the safest means possible."

The Department of Defense announcement comes after an environmental impact study was done on using the neutralization process at the depot

While it could be changed before the record of decision is signed, Blue Grass Army Depot Public Affairs Officer Dave Easter said that is highly unlikely.

"Something absolutely dramatic would have to happen for the decision to change," Easter said.

Easter said this decision basically means the record of decision, which requires an official signature, is imminent.

The depot has already begun working with the state on the permitting procedure, which has to be finalized before any work can be done. The permit applications have to come from the Blue Grass Army Depot commander, Col. Martin Jacoby.

"The Army has been working with the state for some time now to make sure what they expect in a permit application is what they get," Easter said. "It can be a very long, drawn-out process to get a permit It does speed the relationship to have this kind of working relationship."

Clark said he's glad the process is finally moving forward.

"We've felt like we were on the back burner and weren't prioritized," Clark said of waiting for the decision. "Now we are, and we're glad a decision has been made."

Clark said the county is planning a public forum for March 24 at EKUs Perkins Building to allow county residents to learn more about the process and further discuss what the decision means.