U.S. CW Disposal Agency Budgeted at $351M in FY08

The U.S. Defense Department budget for fiscal 2008 would provide $351 million for the agency developing chemical weapons disposal plants in Colorado and Kentucky, U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Monday (see GSN, Feb. 1).

The Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives program had been budgeted at $297 million for the fiscal year that begins in October.  That was “significantly below last year’s level,” according to a press release.

McConnell said he successfully pressed the Defense Department to increase the proposed funding figure.

The Pentagon agency is preparing chemical weapons neutralization facilities at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Kentucky and the Pueblo Chemical Depot in Colorado.  Construction of the actual plants has yet to begin (U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell release, Feb. 5).

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