Groups send letters concerning weapons disposal
BY RYAN GARRETT/REGISTER NEWS WRITER

Two groups sent letters to Kentucky's federal and state elected officials earlier this week expressing their concerns about the future of chemical weapons disposal at the Blue Grass Army Depot, a project the groups fear could be delayed by funding cuts.

The letters urged officials to convince the Pentagon to include adequate funds in their budget requests to keep the Kentucky disposal project on schedule.

The Governor's Chemical Destruction Citizen's Advisory Board (CDCAB) became concerned about project funding after the Pentagon directed the Army to stop design work last month at a Colorado disposal facility.

Both the Pueblo, Colo., site and the Richmond site are under the authority of the Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (ACWA) program, an Army organization separate from other storage and disposal locations. Funding cuts and cessation of design work at Pueblo have raised concerns that the Blue Grass project could be next.

"Given the recent cessation of the design work in Colorado, it is very likely that Kentucky's funding may be cut severely, or even eliminated, in fiscal year 2006 and beyond unless action is taken," state the CDCAB's letters, copies of which were sent to U.S. Sens. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky, and Jim Bunning, R-Ky, Gov. Ernie Fletcher and about a dozen other officials.

"From our perspective, an ominous precedent appears to have been set - using ACWA sites to pay other bills within the larger program," the letter continues.

The letters from the CDCAB and the letters from the Kentucky Chemical Demilitarization Citizen's Advisory Commission both raise concerns that the depot could be a potential target for terrorists.

"For more than 18 years, Pentagon officials have consistently identified the risk of continuing to store these weapons as greater than that of disposal," the CDCAB letter states.

"They have also, even prior to the horrendous events of 9/11, identified the threat of sabotage or theft of these materials as a serious risk," the letter continues. "That threat is certainly elevated as we fight the war on terrorism. ... Now is not the time to allow our own weapons of mass destruction to languish in American communities."

The Chemical Demilitarization Citizen's Advisory Commission made a similar plea in its letters.

"The Pentagon's budget cuts in Colorado, and threatened cuts in Kentucky, would delay destruction of Kentucky's chemical stockpile by many years," the letter states. "This delay increases risks to local citizens especially in light of terrorist threats."

"Given all of the circumstances, this is not the time to slow down the chemical weapons we have located here in Kentucky," said CDCAB co-chair Craig Williams.

A spokesperson for McConnell said the senator will work for the safe and timely destruction of the weapons stockpile at the Blue Grass Army Depot.

"As the author of legislation which led to the selection of an alternative to incineration, you can be sure (McConnell) will do everything in his power to hold the Pentagon accountable and ensure that the stockpile is eliminated as quickly as possible," said McConnell press secretary Julie Adams.