Story created Friday, November 14, 2003.

COLUMIST

BUNNING LOOKS OUT FOR COUNTY

JODI WHITAKER
NEWS EDITOR

On Wednesday, the United States Congress added another safeguard to the process of destroying chemical weapons at sites across the United States -- a move which should make the residents of Madison County feel even safer about the process beginning at the Blue Grass Army Depot.
   
According to the Associated Press, a provision in the defense spending bill asks the Army to "improve chemical monitoring" at not only chemical incinerator sites, but at sites using alternative technologies, such as the neutralization method being used at the Blue Grass
Army Depot.

The measure was sponsored by Kentucky Sen. Jim Bunning, and while it doesn't bind the Army to improve such monitoring, it is meant to put more pressure on the Army to monitor the destruction process.

The Associate Press reported Bunning calling the provision "common sense stuff," and our own local activist Craig Williams agreed.

In a press release from the Chemical Weapons Working Group (.CWWG), Williams, the group's director, said, "We are pleased that the Senate has approved this provision and has added its strong voice to the call to better keep workers and citizens safe from these lethal materials."
       
The monitors are not technology-specific, Williams said, and can be used in any kind of movement or treatment of chemicals which will need to happen. "It’s only reasonable for the Army to deploy the most modern and proven technologies for monitoring agent for the maximum protection of the communities," Williams said in a phone interview Thursday. "That's what it's all about. We want the best available technology to protect our community."

So what does this mean to the residents of Madison County?

It's simple.

This means that yet another step in an already monumental process of ridding our community of 523 tons of chemical weapons will have yet another safety feature built in to help keep the community safe.

Along with an approved work plan by just about anyone and everyone you can imagine, and along with signed Environmental Protection Agency permits and a county-wide emergency plan of action, there is no question about the safety involved in the process our county is about to be a part of.

Not only are our local officials concerned about our well-being, but our national leaders as well.

With Sen. Jim Bunning sponsoring such a provision, the move should assure us of the safety of the process from the top to the bottom.

Over the coming years, as I have said before, there will be plenty of opportunities for each and every resident of' Madison County to voice their opinions and concerns about the process of destroying the weapons stored in our community.

But rest assured, there are many other people outside the community asking questions and expressing concerns as well.

Bravo to Sen. Bunning for having the foresight to look out for our community.