Richmond Register
12/27/01

Editorial

Kudos to McConnell's plan

Those who live and work downwind of Kentucky's nerve gas stockpile have cause for optimism, thanks to events of earlier this month.

A pair of developments in Washington hold promise that the Bluegrass Army Depot's chemical weapons can be eliminated without the unjustifiable risks of incineration - and that it might happen before today's toddlers are out buying their first cars.

The Army announced in mid-December that internal oversight of the chemical weapons disposal program has been transferred to Assistant Secretary Mario Fiori. This is significant because the previous leadership, had allowed persistent mismanagement.

Sens. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Richard Shelby of Alabama demanded a shake-up last May after those in charge of the program lied to a congressional committee about how soon the nation's stockpile could be eliminated.

Fiori got off to a good start, meeting for more than an hour this week with Berea's Craig Williams, head of the grassroots Chemical Weapons Working Group that opposes incineration of chemical weapons in Kentucky, Alabama and other sites.

The real test will be whether Fiori can change the mindset of those who have hands-on responsibility for the weapons disposal program. By spring, we'll have a good indicator of his chances for success thanks to the other encouraging development - a requirement that the Army quickly consider disassembling and neutralizing the weapons instead of burning them. McConnell tacked the requirement onto a defense spending bill last week. It specifically requires the Army to consider past studies that are favorable to disassembly and neutralization.

But, as far as we know, no one is demanding a solution that's risk free. Kentuckians are demanding a fair and accurate assessment of the risks and a chance to help choose the safest alternative. That's not too much to ask.

Lexington Herald-Leader