| Committee discusses issues relating to weapons destruction |
| By Jodi Whitaker Several issues were tackled Wednesday as the Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Committee met to discuss local topics related to the destruction of chemical weapons stored at the Blue Grass Army Depot. In addition to hearing an overview of the facility’s plans thus far from the Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass Team, the group discussed what they foresee as their mission, and how they plan to get information to the community throughout the demilitarization process. Madison County Judge-Executive Kent Clark said this group will help make sure the focus stays on what is important during this process — ridding Madison County of 523 tons of chemical weapons. “If there are issues out there, we want to get them out there,” Clark said. “I really believe we can be a role model to making sure this process goes as fast as possible.” Clark said a group of the magnitude of this one will assure the community is well-represented. “I think it’s very important we work together, and we have,” Clark said. “We can listen to the community and make decisions that everyone can go along with.” The CDCAB currently consists of 19 voting members and seven non-voting members. The group was put together to represent the community and its interests, and has a mission of promoting the expeditious destruction of the weapons in a safe manner, ensuring the protection of the community and facility workers by oversight, encouraging sustainable economic development of the community, setting and articulating community priorities regarding operations, and playing a key role in using public outreach and information sharing regarding the plant with and between the community. “I look to this board to help us make sure we don’t slow this process down,” said Ralph Collins, a non-voting member representing the Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection. “It’s time to move forward. This board can sound out some of the issues the community has. Let’s get them out now rather than waiting until later on and holding up the process.” “Each of you represent a different portion of the community,” said Bill Pehlivanian, deputy program member of the Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives, who is a non-voting member. “What (ACWA) asks of this charter is to help us do our job in this community, and we will help you in getting information fast. It’s a lot more credible to talk to a portion of the community when we have someone from there who is involved.” The group also heard presentations from Col. Martin Jacoby, commander of the Blue Grass Army Depot, and Lt. Col. Dennis Cantwell, Commander of the Blue Grass Chemical Activity, on their roles at the facility. Chris Midgett, program manager for Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass — the contractor for the chemical demilitarization — made a presentation telling the group what work has been done so far, and providing a glimpse of what the facility may look like. The chemical weapons at the Blue Grass Army Depot will go through a number of steps throughout the process — known as neutralization using supercritical water oxidation — before they the destruction process is complete. Midgett said Bechtel plans to be able to complete all three agent campaigns through hydrolysis in 24 months. The entire process — from the time the contract was awarded in June until the facility is completely closed — will take between 14 to 16 years. Midgett said what his group hopes to see from the community is open and honest communications both ways, input from the community through the CDCAB, the ability to take the bad with the good, support in identifying sustainable development initiatives for the local area and region, and identification of community priorities for facility operations. The group also heard presentations from three individuals who submitted resumes to be the group’s facilitator. The CDCAB will decide at their next meeting whether to have a facilitator or to be lead by a chair or co-chairs. A follow-up meeting was not scheduled, but it was agreed meetings will take place quarterly. Jodi Whitaker can be reached at jwhitaker@richmondregister.com. |
| Story created Thursday, October 23, 2003. |