Depot to get share of $21 million from Dept. of Defense
By Ronica Brandenburg/Register News Writer

The Department of Defense recently reported to Congress that $21 million in funding that was previously held by the DOD, has now been formally designated for the Blue Grass Army Depot and the weapons disposal plant in Pueblo, Col.

A statement from U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell released Monday reports that as of August, $8.5 million has been released to the BGAD. The report projects that by September, the DOD will be in compliance with the mandated goal of obligating $100 million for the entire Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternative (ACWA) program that includes the Kentucky and Colorado sites.

"Although the Department of Defense's report was overdue, it appears they are doing what the law instructed them to do and that is to spend money at Blue Grass to dispose of these weapons as Congress intended," McConnell said.

Last January, the DOD put both projects on "caretaker" status and froze funding for the projects while intending to spend the money at incineration facilities at other disposal sites.

In May, the Pentagon's policy was reversed by language in the provision to the supplemental spending bill authored and introduced by McConnell.

"It looks like the DOD has finally gotten the message that weapons destruction must go forward in Kentucky and Colorado," said Craig Williams, director of the Chemical Weapons Working Group, a Berea-based citizen's watchdog organization. "We all recognize and appreciate Senator McConnell's dogged efforts because they are now translating into tangible results for us here in Kentucky and for our friends in Colorado."

McConnell authored a provision in the fiscal year 2005 supplemental appropriations act that insured the $372.3 million in prior-year money budgeted for ACWA sites would not be transferred from Blue Grass and Pueblo to other sites. It also directed the DOD to spend at least $100 million to the sites within four months and prohibited the department from conducting a study on the transportation of chemical weapons across state lines.

The report accompanying the final bill also directed the DOD to update the Congress regularly about how funds are being spent.

"I am encouraged that the DOD appears to be complying with the provision I drafted," McConnell said. "That is why I included the regular reporting requirement - so I could watch the department like a hawk and ensure they are not backsliding on their commitment to the people of Central Kentucky."

Ronica Brandenburg can be reached at rbrandenburg@ richmondregister.com or 623-1669, Ext. 234.