Richmond Register
Sunday, Sept. 28, 2003

Bechtel Parsons to host open house

By Jodi Whitaker

As he talks with the community about his job with Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass
and what the chemical destruction process will mean to Richmond, Public
Outreach Manager Mickey Morales says he gets a variety of questions -
questions about the process, jobs and the importance of destroying chemical
weapons, to name a few.

Morales will answer these questions and many more Monday when the Bechtel
Parsons Blue Grass team hosts an open house at the Eastern Kentucky
University Perkins Building on Kit Carson Drive.

Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass is the group responsible for the design,
construction and operation of the Blue Grass Chemical Agent Destruction
Pilot Plant that will be built at the Blue Grass Army Depot. Once built, the
facility will house the process of neutralization using supercritical water
oxidation to destroy the 523 tons of chemical weapons currently stored at
the depot.

"The purpose of the open house is for the government to introduce the
systems contractor to the community," Morales said. "The open house will be
an opportunity for the community to meet the folks who are going to be
designing, building and operating the chemical weapons destruction facility.

We want to welcome the entire community to the open house, and look forward
to building relationships and addressing any issues or concerns."

Morales, who recently moved to Richmond with his family to work for Bechtel
Parsons Blue Grass, said building a relationship with the community is
important to the process, which will take more than 10 years to complete.

"Fostering an understanding of the project among a broad spectrum of
stakeholders has yielded an informed, empowered community," Morales said.

"Sharing information early is the objective, in order to address and work
any community concerns."

Representatives from the Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass team will participate in
the open house - including Bechtel National Inc., Parsons Infrastructure,
Washington Demilitarization Corporation, Battelle Memorial Institute,
General Atomics Corporation and General Physics.

Representatives from the Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives, the U.S.
Army Joint Munitions Command in Illinois, Science Applications International
Corporation, FOCIS Associates, Blue Grass Chemical Activity, Blue Grass Army
Depot, the Huntsville Division of the Army Corps of Engineers and others
will also participate.

At 5 p.m., Lt. Col. Dennis Cantwell of the Blue Grass Chemical Activity will
make opening remarks.

An overview of the ACWA program will follow by Bill Pehlivanian, deputy
program manager. Madison County Judge-Executive Kent Clark will speak on
behalf of the Chemical Destruction Community Advisory Board.

Chris Midgett, project manager for Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass, will then
introduce the Blue Grass team, and give an update on the work that has
happened thus far.

After formal presentations, the community will have a chance to talk
one-on-one with the government and contractor team.

Morales said he has found, in talking with people, that most are happy to
know the process has begun.

"Most folks are extremely happy to know that a contract has been awarded to
safely destroy the stockpile," Morales said. "They realize that the issue
has been debated for quite some time, and are pleased that the Army is
moving forward with a program to eliminate the weapons."

Along with that comes an appreciation for involving the community in that
process.

"A lot of folks have expressed their appreciation to the program manager for
Assembled Chemical Weapons Assessment for involving the public in the
decision-making process for the technology selection," Morales said. "They
feel that it was the right decision, and it demonstrates that the public and
the government can work together for a mutual goal."

Dave Easter, public affairs officer at the Blue Grass Army Depot, said the
open house will be a great resource for the community to understand what
will be happening at the depot over the coming years.

"This is a great opportunity for any group or any type of person - whether
they have a business or personal interest - to learn about the process,"
Easter said. "There will be people there who have the background, expertise
and knowledge to answer just about any question based on a solid concern."

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