Proposed Senate Budget Resolution Calls for End to Alternatives Study for Chemical Weapons Disposal

The Senate is considering a resolution for the fiscal 2006 federal budget that calls for the U.S. Defense Department to continue developing chemical weapons disposal sites in Colorado and Kentucky, the Arkansas News Bureau reported today (see GSN, March 2).

“The department should stop the needless study of alternative demilitarization technologies, complete the design process for both sites and include sufficient funds in future budgets to fully fund those facilities,” states language inserted into the resolution by Senators Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) and Jim Bunning (R-Ky.).

The Defense Department in January ordered the Army Chemical Materials Agency to consider disposal alternatives to ensure the United States meets its expected 2012 deadline to eliminate its stockpile covered by the Chemical Weapons Convention. 

Disposal facilities have not been built at the Blue Grass, Ky., and Pueblo, Colo., chemical weapons depots. One option being considered is shipping weapons stored at the two sites to operating incinerators in other states.

The Army study is expected to be finished in April, according to the News Bureau.

The Senate is expected to vote on the nonbinding resolution this week (Alison Vekshin, Arkansas News Bureau, March 16).

“This is a direct message to DOD, in the budget resolution, instructing the department to stop delaying and move forward, responsibly, with this project,” Allard said in a press release (Senator Wayne Allard release, March 10).

Meanwhile, the Defense Department is seeking $331 million for operation and upgrades at the Pine Bluff Chemical Agent Disposal Facility in Arkansas through fiscal 2007, the Arkansas News Bureau reported (see GSN, March 15).

“The funds that have been proposed for '06 and '07 will allow us to safely eliminate the chemical munitions stored here at the arsenal,” said incinerator spokeswoman Raini Wright (Alison Vekshin, Arkansas News Bureau II, March 16).

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