Published: July 12 , 2007

Bill could move deadline closer for destruction

By Ronica Shannon
Register News Writer

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A defense authorization bill introduced Tuesday by U.S. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell sets a legal deadline of 2017 for the disposal of chemical weapons being stored at the Blue Grass Army Depot.

If passed, the bill also would provide $49.3 million in additional funding for the weapons' destruction in Richmond and Pueblo, Colo., and mandates that the Department of Defense deliver semiannual progress updates to Congress.

"The Department of Defense has shown an unwillingness to commit the necessary resources to the issue of disposal of the chemical weapons located at the Blue Grass Army Depot," McConnell said. "It has been demonstrated that the longer these weapons remain in storage at the facility, the more unstable they will become."

The bill states that funding for the munitions demilitarization facility at the depot will be increased by $17,300,000.

Another $32,000,000 also will be added to the funding for construction of the destruction facility in Colorado if the bill passes.

“The Department of Defense shall complete work on the destruction of the entire United States stockpile of lethal chemical agents and munitions, including those stored at Blue Grass Army Depot, by the deadline established by the Chemical Weapons Convention, and in no circumstances later than Dec. 31, 2017,” the bill reads.

Those who must be reported to include Speaker of the House of Representatives, majority and minority leaders of the senate and the congressional defense committees.

"Each report submitted shall include the updated and projected annual funding levels necessary to achieve full compliance with this subsection," the bill reads. "The project funding levels for each report shall include a detailed accounting of the complete life-cycle costs for each of the chemical disposal projects."

Senator McConnell’s amendment has bipartisan support, Sens. Ken Salazar, D-Col., Wayne Allard, R-Col., and Jim Bunning, R-Ky., are co-sponsors.

"The Department of Defense has continually played games with the funding for the design and construction of the chemical demilitarization facility at the Blue Grass Army Depot," Bunning said. "DOD has been stonewalling for years and it is time for them to produce results.

"Over the years there has been no stronger voice in the effort to get these chemical weapons cleaned up than Senator McConnell, and I am proud to co-sponsor his amendment to restore funding for this vital project and set a hard deadline for its completion. The DOD has an obligation to the citizens of Kentucky to dispose of these weapons in an expeditious and safe manner."

If passed, the bill will ensure that the weapons are disposed of in a safe and timely manner, McConnell said.

"Chemical weapons pose not only a local risk to the people of Madison County, but a national security risk if they fall into the wrong hands," he added.

The date for a vote on the bill has not been set, said Julie Adams, press secretary for McConnell.

Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 623-1669, Ext. 234.