Provision ensures 2006 groundbreaking
Special to the Register

A provision in the 2006 Department of Defense Appropriations Conference Report will ensure that ground is broken next for the disposal project at the Blue Grass Army Depot, U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell announced Thursday.
 
DOD had requested $33 million in fiscal year 2006 funds for chemical weapons disposal at Blue Grass Army Depot and Pueblo Depot, Colorado, largely for research and development purposes instead of construction purposes.  However, McConnell's amendment would not only provide $20 million in additional funding for Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives but would also permit research and development funds to be used for construction activities.
 
"My amendment provides $53 million for ACWA, including $51 million that can be used for construction purposes, which should put us on a path to begin preliminary at Blue Grass Army Depot next year," McConnell said.  "After 20 years of working closely with the local community to ensure the safe and efficient disposal of chemical weapons, that is very encouraging news."
 
This legislative effort comes on the heels of a provision McConnell inserted into a recent appropriations bill that prevented DOD from using funds intended for Blue Grass and Pueblo at other facilities and forced DOD to begin spending funds at both sites immediately.
 
Local residents keeping close watch on the progress of the ACWA program are pleased with the news and the efforts to keep weapons disposal moving forward, said Craig Williams, director of the Chemical Weapons Working Group.
 
"We are fortunate to have legislators like Senator McConnell who keep on top of this vitally important issue," Williams said.