From destroying chemical weapons to processing oil--could the Tooele Chemical Agent Disposal Facility be transformed into an oil refinery?

Maybe.

Though the metamorphosis was suggested by Utah's First District Congressman Rob Bishop, his Chief of Staff Scott Parker said last week's remark to members of the media was merely a comment in passing.

Parker says Bishop believes a more likely use of the facility located on the Deseret Chemical Depot would be the destruction of conventional weapons.

However, President George W. Bush recently told members of the Small Business Administration that he plans to "direct federal agencies to encourage the building of refineries on closed military bases," but Alaine Southworth, DCD spokesman said right now it's up to the Base Realignment and Closure commission to decide what the future use of the depot will be.

DCD was placed on the BRAC list just last month, but the list is only a recommendation at this point. The Department of Defense recommendations still have to be reviewed by a nine-member independent BRAC Commission. The commission, chaired by former Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony Principi, must submit its final recommendations to the president by Sept. 8.

The BRAC Commission will hold public input meetings prior to makings its recommendations to the president, but such a meeting has yet to be scheduled in this area.

Once the president reviews the commission's recommendations, he then forwards the documents to Congress. Congress will then have 45 legislative days to act on the report. Under BRAC statute, actions to close or realign an installation must be initiated within two years after congressional approval, with completion in six years.

Though it is likely DCD will remain on the list, the future plans for the installation have not been set in stone--or oil.

e-mail: kscott@tooeletranscript.com