Cost Review Planned of New U.S. CW Disposal Sites

Rising price estimates for chemical weapons disposal sites to be built in Colorado and Kentucky require the U.S. Defense Department to conduct a cost review of the facilities, The Pueblo Chieftain reported Saturday (see GSN, Sept. 11).

Congress has approved $3.38 billion for neutralization facilities the Blue Grass Army Depot in Kentucky and the Pueblo Chemical Depot in Colorado. 

Anticipated costs for the projects have risen above approved costs by more than 25 percent, the point at which a review becomes mandatory.

The review is expected to last 60 days, according to a spokeswoman for the Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives program.  Defense Undersecretary Kenneth Krieg will then offer recommendations for reducing costs, the Chieftain reported.

Colorado’s senators said they were told the review would not change plans to use neutralization technology at Pueblo and to treat waste created by the process at the depot.

“I was assured that any plans to transport the wastes off-site or recommend an incineration process instead are off the table,” said Republican Senator Wayne Allard.  “The review will not keep any work from going forward.”

One observer said previous underestimating of the expense for the projects led to what is now seen as cost overruns.

“It is a concern that as part of a review — given the Pentagon’s tight budget — some people in the Defense Department may want to try and delay the work.  But previous delays are another reason the costs have been going up, too,” said Ross Vincent, a member of the Colorado Chemical Demilitarization Citizens Advisory Committee (Peter Roper, The Pueblo Chieftain, Oct. 7).

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